title: [Effect of electroacupuncture on CD 34+ endothelial progenitor cell counts in bone marrow and peripheral blood in focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on CD 34+ endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in bone marrow and peripheral blood and the expression of p-AKT protein in bone marrow in focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (CI/R) rats, so as to investigate its mechanism underlying improvement of cerebral ischemia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 108 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation (sham) group, model (CI/R) group, and EA group which were further divided into 12, 24, 48 h subgroups (n = 12/group, 6 rats for biochemical analysis and the other 6 rats for Western blot analysis). Cl/R model was established by occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery for 2 hours followed by reperfusion. EA (2 Hz/20 Hz) was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20), left "Hegu" (LI 4) and left "Taichong" (LR 3) acupoints for 30 min, once daily. The neurological deficit scores were evaluated using Longa 5-grade standards. Flow cytometer was used to detect the percentages of CD 34+ EPCs in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The expression of p-AKT protein of bone marrow was detected by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the CIl/R model group, the neurological deficit score were gradually and significantly decreased 48 h after CI/R in the EA group (P<0. 05), suggesting an improvement of the neurological function after EA. Compared with the sham group, the percentages of CD 34+ EPCs in bone marrow and peripheral blood and the expression level of bone-marrow p-AKT protein were significantly up-regulated in the model group at the three time-points after CI/R (P<0. 01, P<0. 05). Following EA intervention, the percentages of CD 34+ EPCs at the three time-points in the peripheral blood, and at time-points of 12 h and 24 h in the bone marrow, and the expression levels of p-AKT protein at the three time-points were significantly further up-regulated in the EA group in comparison with the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA can effectively up-regulate the percentages of CD 34+ EPCs in the bone marrow and peripheral blood, and increase p-AKT protein expression in the bone marrow in CI/R rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving neurological function.
authors: Chen-chen
authors: CC
authors: Xie
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Luo
authors: Yue-shan
authors: YS
authors: Pang
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Gao
authors: Man
authors: M
authors: Li
authors: Hai-qi
authors: HQ
authors: Wen
authors: Chen Rui-fang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000032:analysis*; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002452:Cell Count; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34