Effects of Electroacupuncture at Governor Vessel Acupoints on Neurotrophin-3 in Rats with Experimental Spinal Cord Injury.
In an effort to explore new, noninvasive treatment options for spinal cord injuries (SCI), this study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) for SCI rat models. SCI was induced by a modified Allen's weight-drop method. We investigated the response of EA at Dazhui (GV 14) and Mingmen (GV 4) acupoints to understand the effects and mechanisms of EA in neuroprotection and neuronal function recovery after SCI. BBB testing was used to detect motor function of rats' hind limbs among groups, and EA was shown to promote the recovery of SCI rats' motor function. Nissl staining showed a restored neural morphology and an increase in the quantity of neurons after EA. Also, the antiapoptosis role was exposed by TUNEL staining. Western blotting analysis was used to determine the protein expression of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in spinal cord tissue. Compared to the sham group, the expression levels of NT-3 were significantly decreased and EA was shown to upregulate the expression of NT-3. The present study suggests that the role of EA in neuroprotection and dorsal neuronal function recovery after SCI in rats, especially EA stimulation at GV 14 and GV 4, can greatly promote neuronal function recovery, which may result from upregulating the expression of NT-3.
Department of Rehabilitation, The Third People's Hospital of Shenzhen, No. 29 Bulan Road, Longgang District, Shenzhen 518112, China; School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Yu-Ping
0000-0002-0917-0773
YP
Mo
School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China; Treatment Center of TCM, Beijing Bo'ai Hospital, China Rehabilitation Research Center, School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Capital Medical University, No. 10 Jiaomen North Road, Fengtai District, Beijing 100068, China.
Hai-Jiang
0000-0003-2235-1795
HJ
Yao
School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Wei
W
Lv
School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Liang-Yu
LY
Song
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Inner Mongolia People's Hospital, No. 20 Zhao Wudaroad, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 010017, China.
Hong-Tao
HT
Song
Institute of Microcirculation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, No. 5 Dong Dan San Tiao Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing 100005, China.
Xiao-Chen
XC
Yuan
Research and Experimental Center, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Ying-Qiu
YQ
Mao
School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Quan-Kai
QK
Jing
Department of Rehabilitation, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 51 An Wai Xiao Guan Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Su-Hua
0000-0002-7641-5216
SH
Shi
School of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, No. 11 North Third Ring Road East, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100029, China.
Zhi-Gang
0000-0003-0378-3496
ZG
Li
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*
D020933:Neurotrophin 3