OBJECTIVETo investigate the material base and underlying mechanism of the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture on the neuronal plasticity in rats with focal cerebral infarction.

METHODSThe model rats with acute cerebral infarction were made by blocking the middle cerebral artery with monofilament. One hundred and thirty two Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: sham-operation group (A), model group (B), point-to-point scalp acupuncture group (C) and cluster-needling of scalp acupunture group (D). Puncturing from "Baihui (GV 20)" to "Qubin (GB 7)" was used in group C. Cluster needling of scalp acupuncture was used in group D, in which needles were inserted forward and slantingly into "Baihui (GV 20)" and its left and right sides at 4 mm. In both groups, the treatment was carried out with rapid twirling reinforcing-reducing for 1 min then retaining needle for 30 min, once a day, 6 days in one course, for treating 4 courses. There was no treatment for group A and B. The change of neurological function was evaluated with Bederson score, while the expression of microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) in the ischemic penumbra was examined with immunohistochemistry (streptavidin-peroxidase method).

RESULTSIn comparison,with group B, the score of neurological function in group D decreased on 7th day (P<0.05), while the scors in group C and D also decreased on 14th and 28th days (both P<0.05). As compared with group C, the score of neurological function in group D obviously decreased on 28th days (P<0. 05). Comparing with group B, the expression of MAP-2 on the ischemic cortex was significantly increased in group D and C on 7th, 14th and 28th days (all P<0. 05), however, this expression in group D was higher than that in group C on 14th and 28th days (P<0. 05).

CONCLUSIONCluster needling of scalp acupuncture can improve the neurological function of rats with focal cerebral infarction, and increase the expression of MAP-2 in the ischemic penumbra.