Chen Li, Xu Jing, Li Xia, Lü Qiao-Qiao, Tian Yuan, Zhang Li, Zhang Jia-Yi, Li Xin-Yi, Lu Man, Liu Tong
School of Acupuncture-moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nankou Hospital, Changping District, Beijing 102200.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2021 May 25;46(5):397-403. doi: 10.13702/j.1000-0607.201198.
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Weizhong" (BL40) on the expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-CC, PDGF receptor (PDGFR)α and matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) in rats with lumbar multifidus muscle injury (LMMI) so as to study its mechanisms underlying improvement of skeletal muscle injury.
Fifty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into normal group (=6), model group (=24) and EA group (=24), and the latter two groups were further divided into four subgroups (1, 3, 5 and 7 days), with 6 rats in each group. The LMMI model was established by injection of 0.5% bupivacaine (BPVC, 100 μL×4) into the multifidus along the L4 and L5 spinous process. EA (2 Hz/50 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to bilateral "Weizhong"(BL40) for 20 min, once daily for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days respectively, from the first day on after modeling. Histopathological changes of the left multifidus muscle were observed after H.E. staining, and the expression of PDGF-CC, PDGFR-α and MMP-1 proteins in the right multifidus was observed by Western blot.
Compared with the normal group, the expression levels of PDGF-CC protein in the model subgroup 1 d, 3 d and 7 d were significantly decreased (<0.05), and those of PDGFR-α and MMP-1 proteins in the model subgroup 5 d and 7 d, and PDGF-CC protein in the model subgroup 5 d significantly increased (<0.05). In comparison with the model subgroups, the expression levels of PDGF-CC in the EA subgroup 3 d, 5 d and 7 d, PDGFR-α in the EA subgroup 5 d, and MMP-1 in the EA group 3 d and 5 d were significantly increased or significantly further increased (<0.05). H.E. staining showed different shapes and uneven sizes, with large area of damage, enlarged muscle space and inflammatory cell infiltration in the model group, which was relatively milder in the EA subgroups particularly in subgroup 5 d and 7 d.
EA stimulation of BL40 for about 5 days has a positive effect in promoting the repair of the injured multifidus muscle in LMMI rats, which may be related to its function in up-regulating the expression of muscular PDGF-CC, PDGFR-α and MMP-1 proteins.
观察电针“委中”（BL40）对腰椎多裂肌损伤（LMMI）大鼠血小板衍生生长因子（PDGF）-CC、PDGF受体（PDGFR）α和基质金属蛋白酶-1（MMP-1）表达的影响，以探讨其改善骨骼肌损伤的机制。
将54只雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组（n = 6）、模型组（n = 24）和电针组（n = 24），后两组再分为4个亚组（1、3、5和7天），每组6只。沿L4和L5棘突向多裂肌注射0.5%布比卡因（BPVC，100 μL×4）建立LMMI模型。从建模后第一天开始，对双侧“委中”（BL40）施加电针（2 Hz/50 Hz，1 mA）20分钟，分别于第1、3、5和7天各治疗1次。苏木精-伊红（H.E.）染色后观察左侧多裂肌的组织病理学变化，采用蛋白质免疫印迹法观察右侧多裂肌中PDGF-CC、PDGFR-α和MMP-1蛋白的表达。
与正常组相比，模型亚组1天、3天和7天的PDGF-CC蛋白表达水平显著降低（P<0.05），模型亚组5天和7天的PDGFR-α和MMP-1蛋白表达水平以及模型亚组5天的PDGF-CC蛋白表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）。与模型亚组相比，电针亚组3天、5天和7天的PDGF-CC表达水平、电针亚组5天的PDGFR-α表达水平以及电针组3天和5天的MMP-1表达水平显著升高或进一步显著升高（P<0.05）。H.E.染色显示，模型组肌纤维形态各异、大小不均，损伤面积大，肌间隙增宽，有炎性细胞浸润，电针亚组尤其是5天和7天亚组病变相对较轻。
电针BL40约5天对促进LMMI大鼠损伤的多裂肌修复有积极作用，可能与其上调肌肉中PDGF-CC、PDGFR-α和MMP-1蛋白表达的作用有关。
