Zhang Hui-Min, Han Yan-Jing, Zhao Wan-Biao, Hu Ling-Juan, Fei Yu-Tong, Tu Ya
Department of Acu-moxibustion, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2011 Jun;36(3):193-8.
To observe the effect of scalp-acupuncture on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in the endothelium of the microvessels in the hippocampal CA 3 area in local cerebral ischemia (CI) rats, so as to study its underlying mechanism in improving CI.
Eighty male Wistar rats were randomized into normal control (n = 8), sham-operation (n = 8), CI model (n = 32), and scalp-acupuncture (n = 32) groups. The later two groups were further equally and respectively divided into 1, 3, 5 and 10 d subgroups. CI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Qubin"(GB 7) were punctured with filiform needles and stimulated by twirling the needle at a frequency of about 200 revolutions/min for 1 min. The needles were retained for 30 min and re-manipulated once again every 10 min. The treatment was given once daily, continuously for 1, 3, 5 and 10 days respectively in different subgroups. MMP-9 immunoactivity of hippocampal CA 3 area was assayed by immunohistochemistry (SABC).
Following CI, the CI rats' neural deficit scores in the model and scalp-acupuncture (treatment) groups had no apparent difference (P > 0.05). After acupuncture, the neural deficit score in the treatment group decreased gradually, and was significantly lower than that in the 10 d subgroup of model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the 1, 3, 5 and 10 d subgroups of control group, the total area and integral optical density (IOD) values of MMP-9 immunoactivity of hippocampal CA 3 area were all increased significantly in the corresponding 4 subgroups of model group (P < 0.01). Compared with the 3, 5 and 10 d subgroups of the model group, the total area and IOD values of MMP-9 immunoreaction positive products in the corresponding 3 subgroups of scalp-acupuncture group were decreased significantly (P < 0.05, P < 0.01).
Scalp-acupuncture can effectively down-regulate MMP-9 expression in the hippocampal CA 3 area in focal cerebral ischemia rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving the neural deficit.
观察头针治疗对局部脑缺血（CI）大鼠海马CA3区微血管内皮基质金属蛋白酶9（MMP-9）表达的影响，探讨其改善脑缺血的机制。
将80只雄性Wistar大鼠随机分为正常对照组（n = 8）、假手术组（n = 8）、脑缺血模型组（n = 32）和头针治疗组（n = 32）。后两组再分别等分为1、3、5、10 d亚组。采用大脑中动脉闭塞法（MCAO）制备脑缺血模型。选用毫针针刺“百会”（GV 20）和“曲鬓”（GB 7），以约200转/分钟的频率捻转针体1分钟进行刺激，留针30分钟，每隔10分钟行针1次。每日治疗1次，不同亚组分别连续治疗1、3、5、10天。采用免疫组织化学（SABC）法检测海马CA3区MMP-9免疫活性。
脑缺血后，模型组与头针治疗组大鼠神经功能缺损评分无明显差异（P > 0.05）。针刺后，治疗组神经功能缺损评分逐渐降低，且显著低于模型组10 d亚组（P < 0.05）。与对照组1、3、5、10 d亚组比较，模型组相应4个亚组海马CA3区MMP-9免疫活性的总面积及积分光密度（IOD）值均显著升高（P < 0.01）。与模型组3、5、10 d亚组比较，头针治疗组相应3个亚组MMP-9免疫反应阳性产物的总面积及IOD值均显著降低（P < 0.05，P < 0.01）。
头针可有效下调局灶性脑缺血大鼠海马CA3区MMP-9的表达，这可能是其改善神经功能缺损的作用机制之一。
