OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the apoptosis of brain tissue cells and the expression of Caspase-3 in the rats with cerebral-cardiac syndrome (CCS).

METHODSA total of 70 healthy SD rats were selected. Ten was randomly recruited as the sham-operation group, and the rest were used for CCS model preparation. Thirty successfully modeled rats were divided into the model group, the EA group, and the non-EA group, 10 in each group. The model was prepared using injecting collagenase + heparin into the caudate nucleus. Equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride injection was injected to rats' caudate nucleus in the sham-operation group. EA was started on the 1st day of modeling. Shuigou (GV26), Fengfu (GV16), Neiguan (PC6), and Xinshu (BL15) were needled in the EA group. Four points in the hips were needled in the non-EA group. The EA needling lasted for 20 min each time, once daily, for 3 successive times. No EA was administered to the sham-operation group or the model group. The apoptosis of brain tissue around the hematoma and the expression of Caspase-3 were detected using TUNEL and immunochemical assay.

RESULTSTUNEL cells could be occasionally seen with fewer Caspase-3 expression in the sham-operation group. More TUNEL positive cells appeared in the tissue around the hematoma of the model group with a large amount of Caspase-3 expression. The TUNEL positive cells and Caspase-3 expression were obviously less in the EA group than in the model group and the non-EA group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSEA could inhibit the apoptosis of brain tissue cells in CCS rats. Its mechanisms might be associated with down-regulating the Caspase-3 expression of the brain tissue around the hematoma.