title: Pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture potentiates the expression of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in rat brains.
abstract: The expression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 is known to confer protective effects on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. The current study investigated the expression levels of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in response to multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Fengchi (GB20) stimulation. Rats were divided into five groups: uninjured, control, non-acupoint, GB20 and ST36. Rats in the non-acupoint, GB20 and ST36 groups received 30 minutes (3 times or 18 times) of electro-acupuncture stimulation before experimental cerebral ischemia was induced. Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were found to be significantly increased in the ST36 groups with either 3 or 18 electro-acupuncture treatments (P < 0.05). The production was higher with 18 electro-acupuncture treatments in the ST36 groups (P < 0.05). In the GB20 groups, significant increase was only observed in transforming growth factor-beta 1 with 18 electro-acupuncture treatments (P < 0.05). No significant elevation of the level of transforming growth factor-beta 1 was observed in the non-acupoint groups. However, the production of Bcl-2 increased with 18 treatments in the non-acupoint groups (P < 0.05). The data suggest that multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at ST36 was effective in conferring neuroprotective effect on the brain by means of upregulation of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 and the effect was increase with the number of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Ka Keung
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Samuel Cl
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Kwok-Fai
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: So
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Dora My
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Poon
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: Mason Cp
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Leung
keywords: Bcl-2; acupoint; cerebral ischemia; electro-acupuncture; stroke prevention; transforming growth factor-beta 1