Cheng Yu, Meng Fanqi, Liang Zhanmou, Zhou Xin, Pei Wenya, Ruan Jingwen, Lu Xiaozhou, Ding Ying, He Guanheng
Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
IBRO Neurosci Rep. 2025 May 18;18:814-822. doi: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2025.05.003. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Nerve defect is a relatively serious injury in peripheral nerve injury, which often leads to the neuron apoptosis of the corresponding spinal cord segment and the difficulty of long-distance regeneration of the damaged nerve fibers, collectively resulting in poor recovery of nerve function after surgery. All experimental rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: Control, Conduit, Local acupoints electroacupuncture (EA) (Local-EA), and governor vessel (GV) combined with local acupoints electroacupuncture (GV+Local-EA) groups. A 10-mm defect model was established in the left median nerve, and a chitosan nerve conduit was used to bridge the defect. After 4 weeks, nerve regeneration and functional recovery were evaluated using immunofluorescence histochemistry, behavioral assays, and electrophysiological measurements. Results showed that the GV+Local-EA group exhibited significantly elevated the number of ChAT-positive motor neurons and enhanced the GDNF expression within the C8 spinal cord anterior horn compared with other experimental groups ( < 0.01). Furthermore, the density of NF-positive nerve fibers and S100β-positive Schwann cells in the middle and distal parts of the transplanted conduits was significantly higher in the GV+Local-EA group than in other groups ( < 0.05). The behavioral improvements and the median nerve conduction complex action potential were significantly better in the GV+Local-EA group ( < 0.05). These results suggest that GV combined with local acupoints electroacupuncture can prevent the loss of spinal motor neurons and upregulating the GDNF expression, and then facilitates the regeneration of damaged median nerve fibers along the Schwann cell-formed Bungner band toward the distal end, thereby accelerating functional recovery of the affected forelimb and demonstrating superior therapeutic efficacy compared with conventional local acupoint protocols.
神经缺损是周围神经损伤中较为严重的一种损伤，常导致相应脊髓节段的神经元凋亡以及受损神经纤维远距离再生困难，共同导致术后神经功能恢复不佳。所有实验大鼠被随机分为以下几组：对照组、导管组、局部穴位电针（EA）组（局部 - EA组）以及督脉（GV）联合局部穴位电针组（GV + 局部 - EA组）。在左侧正中神经建立10毫米的缺损模型，并使用壳聚糖神经导管桥接缺损。4周后，通过免疫荧光组织化学、行为学检测和电生理测量来评估神经再生和功能恢复情况。结果显示，与其他实验组相比，GV + 局部 - EA组C8脊髓前角内ChAT阳性运动神经元数量显著增加，GDNF表达增强（<0.01）。此外，GV + 局部 - EA组移植导管中、远端部分NF阳性神经纤维和S100β阳性雪旺细胞的密度显著高于其他组（<0.05）。GV + 局部 - EA组的行为改善和正中神经传导复合动作电位明显更好（<0.05）。这些结果表明，督脉联合局部穴位电针可防止脊髓运动神经元丢失并上调GDNF表达，进而促进受损正中神经纤维沿雪旺细胞形成的Büngner带向远端再生，从而加速患侧前肢的功能恢复，与传统局部穴位方案相比显示出更好的治疗效果。
