Effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of related protein mRNA in the striatum in rats with Parkinson's disease.
- Author:
Shuju WANG
;
Biao MA
;
Jun MA
;
Fang LIU
;
Yanchun WANG
;
Guojie SUN
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH: Acupuncture Points; Animals; Astrocytes; Connexin 43; genetics; metabolism; Corpus Striatum; metabolism; Electroacupuncture; Humans; Male; Nerve Tissue Proteins; genetics; metabolism; Parkinson Disease; genetics; metabolism; therapy; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- From: Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion 2015;35(7):697-701
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
OBJECTIVETo explore action mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).
METHODSA total of 40 healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a sham operation group, a model group and an EA group, 10 rats in each group. PD rat model was duplicated by micro injection of 6-hydroxyl dopamine into right striatum of rats, and the rats in the sham operation group were treated with micro injection of 0. 9% NaCl. Rats in the normal group, model group and the sham operation group received no treatment; rats in the EA group were treated by EA at "Fengfu" (GV 16) and "Taichong" (LR 3) with continuous wave, 2 Hz in frequency, 1 mA in intensity for 30 min. The treatment was given once a day for total 2 weeks. Behavioral test was used to evaluate rotational behavior changes of PD rats. RT-PCR method was applied to detect the expression of GFAP (glial fiber acidic protein) mRNA and Cx43 (connexin 43) mRNA in the striatum.
RESULTSThe difference of rotational behavior was not significant before and after treatment in the model group (P>0. 05), while that in the EA group was significant (P<0. 01). The expression of GFAP mRNA and Cx43 mRNA in the model group was significantly higher than that in the normal group and sham operation group (all P<0. 01); after EA treatment, the expression of GFAP mRNA and Cx43 mRNA in the EA group was lower significantly than that in the model group (both P<0. 01).
CONCLUSIONThe action mechanism of EA for prevention and treatment of Parkinson' s disease may be associated with inhibiting the activation of astrocytes.