title: Electroacupuncture induces acute changes in cerebral cortical miRNA profile, improves cerebral blood flow and alleviates neurological deficits in a rat model of stroke.
abstract: Electroacupuncture has been shown to improve cerebral blood flow in animal models of stroke. However, it is unclear whether electroacupuncture alters miRNA expression in the cortex. In this study, we examined changes in the cerebral cortical miRNA profile, cerebral blood flow and neurological function induced by electroacupuncture in a rat model of stroke. Electroacupuncture was performed atRenzhong(GV26) andNeiguan(PC6), with a frequency of 2 Hz, continuous wave, current intensity of 3.0 mA, and stimulation time of 1 minute. Electroacupuncture increased cerebral blood flow and alleviated neurological impairment in the rats. miRNA microarray profiling revealed that the vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, which links cell proliferation with stroke, was most significantly affected by electroacupuncture. Electroacupuncture induced changes in expression of rno-miR-206-3p, rno-miR-3473, rno-miR-6216 and rno-miR-494-3p, and these changes were confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Our findings suggest that changes in cell proliferation-associated miRNA expression induced by electroacupuncture might be associated with the improved cerebral blood supply and functional recovery following stroke.
authors.affiliation: VIP of Acupuncture Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Hai-Zhen
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: VIP of Acupuncture Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Feng
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1750-7364
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Pan-Gong
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Li-Dan
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Han-Tong
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: VIP of Acupuncture Department, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China; Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Shi
keywords: Neiguan (PC6); Renzhong (GV26); cerebral blood flow; electroacupuncture; miRNA; middle cerebral artery occlusion; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; stroke