Electro-acupuncture can alleviate the cerebral oedema of rat after ischemia.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

This study was designed to determine whether electro-acupuncture (EA) could alleviate cerebral oedema after cerebral ischemia.

RESEARCH DESIGN

EA has been widely used for cerebrovascular disease in East Asian countries. However, whether EA might reduce cerebral oedema after stroke remains unclear. In the current study, diffusion-weighted MRI, which is a reliable method for detecting cerebral oedema, was used to determine whether EA could ameliorate cerebral oedema.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Twelve rats with induced strokes were divided into two groups: one group with EA treatment (EA group) and one group without EA treatment (non-EA group). Both groups of rats underwent MRI scanning at the same time point following ischemia.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

Diffusion-weighted imaging showed that the relative apparent diffusion coefficient increased significantly in the cortical and sub-cortical areas of the EA group relative to the non-EA group, indicating that EA can alleviate cerebral oedema after ischemic stroke.

CONCLUSIONS

Electro-acupuncture can alleviate cerebral oedema in rats following ischemia.