Su Min-Zhi, Yi Wei, Huang Kang-Bai, Liu Rong, Xu Neng-Gui
College of Acu-moxibustion and Massage, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510405, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2012 Apr;37(2):108-13.
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on expression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT 3) in the focal ischemic cerebral tissue, so as to study its mechanism underlying improving ischemic stroke.
A total of 150 SD rats were randomized into sham operation (control) group, cerebral ischemia (CI) model (model) group and EA group which were further randomly divided into 2 hour (2 h), 1 day (1 d), 3 d, 1 week (1 W) and 3 W subgroups (n = 6/subgroup for immunohistochemistry, n = 4/subgroup for Western blot). CI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery with electro-coagulation method. EA (3 Hz/20 Hz, 2-3 V) was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Dazhui "(GV 14) for 30 min. The expression of cerebral STAT 3 was detected by immunofluorescence histochemistry and laser-confocal microscopy, and Western blot, separately.
Compared with the control group, cerebral STAT 3 immunofluorescence intensity values at the time-points of 2 h, 1 d, 3 d and 1 W, STAT 3 protein expression levels at the time-points of 2 h, 1 d and 3 d in the model group were increased significantly (P < 0.001, P < 0.05). After acupuncture intervention, cerebral STAT 3 immunofluorescence intensity values at the time-points of 1 d, 3 d, 1 W and 3 W, STAT 3 protein expression levels at the time-points of 1 d, 3 d and 3 W in the EA group were down-regulated considerably (P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between the control and model groups in STAT 3 immunofluorescence intensity at 3 W, and in STAT 3 protein expression levels at 1 W and 3 W, and between the EA and model groups in STAT 3 immunofluorescence intensity at 2 h, and in STAT 3 protein expression at 2 h, 3 d and 1 W (P > 0.05).
EA therapy can down-regulate the expression level of STAT 3 protein in the regional ischemic cerebral tissue in cerebral ischemia rats, which may contribute to its efficacy in the treatment of acute and chronic ischemic stroke.
观察电针干预对局灶性缺血脑组织中信号转导子和转录激活子3（STAT 3）表达的影响，以探讨其改善缺血性脑卒中的机制。
将150只SD大鼠随机分为假手术（对照）组、脑缺血（CI）模型（模型）组和电针组，电针组再随机分为2小时（2 h）、1天（1 d）、3天、1周（1 W）和3周亚组（免疫组化每组n = 6，Western blot每组n = 4）。采用电凝法阻断大脑中动脉建立CI模型。将电针（3 Hz/20 Hz，2 - 3 V）施加于“百会”（GV 20）和“大椎”（GV 14）30分钟。分别采用免疫荧光组织化学和激光共聚焦显微镜以及Western blot检测脑STAT 3的表达。
与对照组相比，模型组在2 h、1 d、3 d和1 W时间点的脑STAT 3免疫荧光强度值，以及在2 h、1 d和3 d时间点的STAT 3蛋白表达水平均显著升高（P < 0.001，P < 0.05）。针刺干预后，电针组在1 d、3 d、1 W和3 W时间点的脑STAT 3免疫荧光强度值，以及在1 d、3 d和3 W时间点的STAT 3蛋白表达水平均显著下调（P < 0.001，P < 0.01，P < 0.05）。对照组和模型组在3 W时的STAT 3免疫荧光强度，以及在1 W和3 W时的STAT 3蛋白表达水平之间，电针组和模型组在2 h时的STAT 3免疫荧光强度，以及在2 h、3 d和1 W时的STAT 3蛋白表达之间，差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。
电针治疗可下调脑缺血大鼠局部缺血脑组织中STAT 3蛋白的表达水平，这可能是其治疗急性和慢性缺血性脑卒中疗效的机制之一。
