Lu Yan, Shen Qing-Si, Tian Meng, Jia Hong-Ling, Zhang Yong-Chen
College of Acu-moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China.
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2017 Aug 25;42(4):290-5.
To observe the effect of "Nape Seven Needles" on the expressions of Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll 4) and hairy and enhancer of split homolog 1(Hes 1) in cervical intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD) rats, so as to explore its mechanism of deferring the degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc.
SD male rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and a nape seven needles group (=11 in each group). The IVDD model was established by static-dynamic imbalance method. "Nape Seven Needles" acupoints were bilateral "Fengchi" (GB 20), "Tianzhu" (BL 10), "Wangu" (GB 12) and "Fengfu" (GV 16). The rats in the nape seven needles group were treated for 4 weeks, once a day, with needles retained for 20 minutes. Tilted plane test was used to observe the angle changes. The morphology of cervical intervertebral disc was observed after H.E. stain. Dll 4 and Hes 1 mRNA and protein expression in intervertebral disc tissues were detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively.
Compared with that in the normal group, the angle of tilted plane in the model group decreased (<0.05); compared with that in the model group, the angle in the nape seven needles group increased (<0.05). The structure of cervical intervertebral disc was normal and the fiber ring was arranged orderly in the normal group. The morphology of cervical intervertebral disc is irregular in the model group, and the number of nucleus pulposus cells decreased compared with that in the normal group. The structure of cervical intervertebral disc in the nape seven needles group was similar to that in the normal group. Compared with that in the normal group, the expression of Dll 4 mRNA decreased in the model group (<0.05). The expression of Dll 4 mRNA in the nape seven needles group was higher than that in the model group (<0.05). The expression of Hes 1 mRNA in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (<0.05). The protein expressions of Dll 4 and Hes 1 in the nape seven needles group were higher than those in the model group (<0.05).
Acupuncture at "Nape Seven Needles" acupoints can defer the degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc, which may be related to its regulation of Dll 4 and Hes 1 mRNA and protein expression in the intervertebral disc tissue.
观察“项七针”对颈椎间盘退变（IVDD）大鼠Delta样配体4（Dll 4）和毛状分裂增强子同源物1（Hes 1）表达的影响，以探讨其延缓颈椎间盘退变的机制。
将雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组和项七针组（每组11只）。采用动静力失衡法建立IVDD模型。“项七针”穴位为双侧“风池”（GB 20）、“天柱”（BL 10）、“完骨”（GB 12）和“风府”（GV 16）。项七针组大鼠治疗4周，每天1次，留针20分钟。采用倾斜平面试验观察角度变化。苏木精-伊红染色后观察颈椎间盘形态。分别采用实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白质印迹法检测椎间盘组织中Dll 4和Hes 1 mRNA及蛋白表达。
与正常组比较，模型组倾斜平面角度减小（<0.05）；与模型组比较，项七针组角度增大（<0.05）。正常组颈椎间盘结构正常，纤维环排列有序。模型组颈椎间盘形态不规则，髓核细胞数量较正常组减少。项七针组颈椎间盘结构与正常组相似。与正常组比较，模型组Dll 4 mRNA表达降低（<0.05）。项七针组Dll 4 mRNA表达高于模型组（<0.05）。模型组Hes 1 mRNA表达高于正常组（<0.05）。项七针组Dll 4和Hes 1蛋白表达高于模型组（<0.05）。
针刺“项七针”穴位可延缓颈椎间盘退变，其机制可能与调控椎间盘组织中Dll 4和Hes 1 mRNA及蛋白表达有关。
