Downregulation of nitric oxide by electroacupuncture against hypoxic‑ischemic brain damage in rats via nuclear factor‑κB/neuronal nitric oxide synthase.
The present study aimed to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) against perinatal hypoxic‑ischemic brain damage (HIBD) in rats by electroacupuncture (EA) and to examine its potential neuroprotective mechanism. NO content, the number of positive cells, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and nuclear factor‑κB (NF‑κB) in rat cortex cells were determined. The results demonstrated that treatment with EA significantly downregulated the NO content in the cortex cells (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the control groups) and alleviated cell damage in the cortex of rats with HIBD. The activator, S‑adenosyl‑L‑methionine and the inhibitor, hydroxylamine of cystathionine‑β‑synthase (CBS), aggravated and remitted the hypoxic damage in the cortex cells, respectively. In addition, treatment with EA significantly downregulated the expression of nNOS and NF‑κB in the rat cortex cells (*P<0.05, **P<0.01, compared with the control groups). The results also indicated that treatment with EA downregulated the NO content of cortical cells against HIBD via the NF‑κB/nNOS pathway and further implied that the hydrogen sulfide/CBS system may be involved in the process. The present study provided a significant reference for the prevention and treatment of HIBD using the EA technique and also described a novel protective mechanism.
Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.
Yichen
Y
Liu
Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center of PLA, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
Weiguang
W
Li
Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.
Linyan
L
Hu
Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.
Ying
Y
Liu
Department of Pediatrics, 159th Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Zhumadian, Henan 463000, P.R. China.
Baoquan
B
Li
Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center of PLA, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
Changqing
C
Sun
Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Cognitive and Mental Health Research Center of PLA, Beijing 100850, P.R. China.
Chenggang
C
Zhang
Department of Pediatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, P.R. China.
Liping
L
Zou
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism; D019811:Hydroxylamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects
D016328:NF-kappa B; D019811:Hydroxylamine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D012436:S-Adenosylmethionine; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D003541:Cystathionine beta-Synthase; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide