Lv Wei, Li Bing, Jing Quan-Kai, Mo Yu-Ping, Yao Hai-Jiang, Song Liang-Yu, Wang Xin, Mao Ying-Qiu, Li Zhi-Gang, Shi Su-Hua
School of Acu-moxibustion and Massage, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Department of Basic Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2017 Feb 25;42(1):14-9.
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at "Dazhui" (GV 14) and "Mingmen" (GV 4) of the Governor Vessel at different time-points on spinal cord neuronal apoptosis and the expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) protein in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improving SCI.
A total of 108 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, SCI model and EA groups which were further divided into 1, 3 and 7 d subgroups (12 rats/subgroup, 6 rats in each subgroup for TUNEL or Western blot, separately). SCI model was established by using the modified Allen's method. EA was applied to GV 14 and GV 4 for 20 min, once daily, for 1, 3 and 7 days, respectively. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale was adopted to assess the locomotor function of rats, the TUNEL method was used to examine neuronal apoptosis of injuried spinal cord, and the expression of phosphorylated (p)-c-Jun protein of T-T spinal cord was detected by using Western blot.
After modeling, the BBB scores of SCI rats on day 1, 3 and 7 were signi-ficantly decreased (<0.01), while the numbers of apoptotic neuronal cells and the expression levels of p-c-Jun protein in the spinal cord were considerably increased at the 3 time-points in the model group (<0.01, <0.05). Following EA intervention, the decreased BBB scores on day 3 and 7, and the increased numbers of apoptotic neuronal cells on day 1, 3 and 7 and the up-regulated expression levels of p-c-Jun protein on day 3 and 7 were obviously suppressed (<0.05, <0.01).
EA intervention can improve the locomotor function of SCI rats, which Feb be related to its effects in reducing neuronal apoptosis and down-regulating p-c-Jun protein in the injuried spinal cord.
观察督脉“大椎”（GV 14）和“命门”（GV 4）不同时间点电针刺激对脊髓损伤（SCI）大鼠脊髓神经元凋亡及脊髓中c-Jun氨基末端激酶（JNK）蛋白表达的影响，以揭示其改善SCI的作用机制。
将108只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、SCI模型组和电针组，电针组再分为1、3、7天亚组（每组12只，各亚组中6只分别用于TUNEL或Western blot检测）。采用改良Allen法制备SCI模型。分别于造模后1、3、7天对GV 14和GV 4进行电针刺激20分钟，每日1次。采用Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan（BBB）评分评估大鼠运动功能，TUNEL法检测损伤脊髓神经元凋亡情况，Western blot检测胸腰段脊髓磷酸化（p）-c-Jun蛋白表达。
造模后，SCI大鼠第1、3、7天的BBB评分显著降低（<0.01），模型组3个时间点脊髓凋亡神经元细胞数量及p-c-Jun蛋白表达水平均显著增加（<0.01，<0.05）。电针干预后，第3、7天降低的BBB评分，第1、3、7天增加的凋亡神经元细胞数量以及第3、7天上调的p-c-Jun蛋白表达水平均明显受到抑制（<0.05，<0.01）。
电针干预可改善SCI大鼠的运动功能，这可能与其减少脊髓损伤神经元凋亡及下调p-c-Jun蛋白表达有关。
