title: Effects of electroacupuncture and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) signalling pathway on oligodendrocyte differentiation in the demyelinated spinal cord of rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In spinal cord demyelination, some oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) remain in the demyelinated region but have a reduced capacity to differentiate into oligodendrocytes. This study investigated whether 'Governor Vessel' (GV) electroacupuncture (EA) would promote the differentiation of endogenous OPCs into oligodendrocytes by activating the retinoid X receptor γ (RXR-γ)-mediated signalling pathway.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult rats were microinjected with ethidium bromide (EB) into the T10 spinal cord to establish a model of spinal cord demyelination. EB-injected rats remained untreated (EB group, n=26) or received EA treatment (EB+EA group, n=26). A control group (n=26) was also included that underwent dural exposure without EB injection. After euthanasia at 7 days (n=5 per group), 15 days (n=8 per group) or 30 days (n=13 per group), protein expression of RXR-γ in the demyelinated spinal cord was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. In addition, OPCs derived from rat embryonic spinal cord were cultured in vitro, and exogenous 9-cis-RA (retinoic acid) and RXR-γ antagonist HX531 were administered to determine whether RA could activate RXR-γ and promote OPC differentiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EA was found to increase the numbers of both OPCs and oligodendrocytes expressing RXR-γ and RALDH2, and promote remyelination in the remyelinated spinal cord. Exogenous 9-cis-RA enhanced the differentiation of OPCs into mature oligodendrocytes by activating RXR-γ.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that EA may activate RXR signalling to promote the differentiation of OPCs into oligodendrocytes in spinal cord demyelination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Hua
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Rong-Yi
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electron Microscope, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Lang
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Eng-Ang
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Ling
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.|Joint Laboratory of Jinan University and The University of Hong Kong, GHM Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wutian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.|Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.|Institute of Spinal Cord Injury, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.|Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Jiangsu, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yuan-Shan
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3804-5792
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Zeng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003711:Demyelinating Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009836:Oligodendroglia / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047488:Retinoid X Receptors