The mechanism of promoting angiogenesis after cerebral infarction by scalp acupuncture based on MATN2/WNT3a/β-catenin.

Scalp acupuncture, a therapeutic modality derived from traditional acupuncture theory, has been widely applied in clinical practice for cerebral infarction management in China. In this study, a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rat model was established. Therapeutic efficacy was evaluated through multidimensional approaches: (1) Neurological functional assessment using modified Neurological Severity Score (mNSS); (2) Quantitative infarct volume measurement via 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining; (3) Histopathological analysis through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Additional analytical techniques including transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immunofluorescence staining were employed to investigate the expression patterns of MATN2, WNT3a, β-catenin, and CD34 biomarkers, elucidating the potential mechanisms underlying scalp acupuncture-induced angiogenesis post-cerebral infarction in animal models. Key findings included: marked reduction in mNSS scores at 1-day and 7-day post-intervention intervals (P < 0.01); substantial decrease in cerebral infarction volume quantified by TTC staining (P < 0.05); enhanced neuronal density and preserved cytoarchitectural integrity in peri-infarct regions observed through HE staining. Ultrastructural analysis via TEM revealed notable improvements in microvascular endothelial cell (EC) morphology and intercellular junctions. Immunofluorescence quantification showed upregulated expression of pro-angiogenic factors MATN2, WNT3a, and β-catenin, accompanied by increased CD34 + microvascular density (P < 0.01). This study provides comprehensive experimental evidence that scalp acupuncture administration facilitates post-ischemic angiogenesis, suggest potential therapeutic applications for stroke rehabilitation.