[Effects of electroacupuncture plus oxygenmedicine on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins in the hippocampal CA 1 area in rats with global cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) plus oxygenmedicine (OM) on the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the hippocampal CA 1 area in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/RI) rats.

METHODS

Thirty SD rats were randomized into sham-operation, model, EA, OM, EA+OM groups (n=6 /group). CI/RI model was established by using modified Pulsinelli 4 vessel occlusion and reperfusion. EA (100 Hz, 3.5 mA) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) 30 min, once daily for 4 days. Rats of OM and EA+ OM groups were put into a box filled with oxygen and atomized herbal medicines containing Bingpian (Borneolum), Shexiang (Moschus), Huangjing (Rhizoma Polygonati), Shouwu (Radix Polygoni Multiflori), etc. for 30 min, once daily for 4 days. Bcl-2 and Bax expression of the hippocampal CA 1 area was detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Compared with sham group, the numbers of Bcl-2 immunoreaction (IR) and Bax IR positive cells, and the immunoactivity of Bcl-2 IR and Bax IR positive products in the hippocampal CA 1 area were increased significantly in model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In comparison with model group, the number of Bcl-2 IR positive cells and Bcl-2 immunoactivity in EA, OM and EA+OM groups increased considerably (P < 0.01), while Bax IR positive cell numbers and Bax immunoactivity in EA, OM and OM+ EA groups decreased significantly (P < 0.01). The effects of EA+ OM were significantly superior to those of EA and OM groups in upregulating Bcl-2 IR positive cell number and Bcl-2 immunoactivity and downregulating Bax IR positive cell number and Bax immunoactivity (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found between EA and OM groups in the abovemen-EA and OM and EA+OM can effectively regulate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in tioned indexes (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EA and OM and EA + OM can effectively regulate the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the hippocampal CA 1 area in CI/RI rats, and the effects of EA+OM are significantly superior to those of simple EA and simple OM, which may contribute to their effect in improving cerebral ischemia.