title: Acupuncture at Baihui and Dazhui reduces brain cell apoptosis in heroin readdicts.
abstract: Acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Dazhui (GV14) reduces neuronal loss and attenuates ultrastructural damage in cerebral ischemic rats. However, whether acupuncture can treat addiction and prevent readdiction through changes to brain cell ultrastructure remains unknown. In this study, cell apoptosis was observed in the hippocampus and frontal lobe of heroin readdicted rats by electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining displayed a reduction in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Bax expression in the hippocampus and frontal lobe. After rats were given acupuncture at Baihui and Dazhui, the pathological damage in the hippocampus and frontal lobe was significantly reduced, Bcl-2 expression was upregulated and Bax expression was downregulated. Acupuncture exerted a similar effect with methadone, a commonly used drug for clinical treatment of drug addiction. Experimental findings suggest that acupuncture at Dazhui and Baihui can prevent brain cell apoptosis in heroin readdicted rats.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui Key Laboratory of Foundation and Technology of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Cultivating Base), Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaorong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy, School of Integrated Traditional Chinese & Western Medicine, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Rongjun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, School of Acupuncture & Osteology, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Hang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui Key Laboratory of Foundation and Technology of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Cultivating Base), Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Xinghui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, School of Acupuncture & Osteology, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Guangchuan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Anhui Key Laboratory of Foundation and Technology of Acupuncture and Moxibustion (Cultivating Base), Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoge
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Song
keywords: Bax; Bcl-2; NSFC grant; acupuncture; apoptosis; brain injury; heroin readdiction; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; neuroprotection; traditional Chinese medicine; ultrastructure