Regulation of acupuncture on NMDAR1 mRNA expression in visual cortex of monocularly-deprived rats
10.1007/s11726-017-0966-2
- VernacularTitle:针刺对单眼剥夺大鼠视皮层NMDAR1 mRNA表达调节的研究
- Author:
Tiantian ZHU
;
Cheng CHEN
;
Xingke YAN
- Keywords:
Acupuncture Therapy;
Amblyopia;
Receptors,N-Methyl-D-Aspartate;
NMDA receptor A1;
Evoked Potentials,Visual;
Rats
- From:
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science
2017;15(1):1-7
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To explore the molecular biological mechanism of acupuncture in intervening visual deprivation.
Methods: Forty-eight 2-week old Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and 6 acupuncture groups (group C1: acupuncture at the unaffected side in early stage; group C2: acupuncture at the affected side in early stage; group D1: acupuncture at the unaffected side in mid-stage; group D2: acupuncture at the affected side in mid-stage; group E1: acupuncture at the unaffected side in late stage; group E2: acupuncture at the affected side in late stage) by the random number table, 6 rats in each group. Rats in the normal group didn’t receive any interventions. The rat model of deprivation amblyopia was established by unilateral eyelid suture in the model group and each acupuncture group. After successful modeling, rats in model group didn’t receive any treatments; rats in the acupuncture groups received acupuncture intervention which began respectively on the 3rd, 12th and 21st day after modeling. Pattern visual evoked potential (P-VEP) and N-methy D-aspartatreceptor-1 (NMDAR1) mRNA expression in visual cortex area 17 were detected at the end of acupuncture intervention in each group.
Results: After the intervention, the P-VEP waveform was significantly changed, with a significantly delayed P100 value (P<0.01) and significantly decreased amplitude of N45-P100 in the model group versus the normal group (P<0.01); the P-VEP waveform was significantly improved, with obviously earlier P100 (P<0.01) and increased amplitude of N45-P100 (P<0.05) in each acupuncture group versus the model group. The improvement effect of acupuncture on the P-VEP waveform in group C1 and C2 was more significant than that in group D1, D2, E1 and E2. The expression of NMDAR1 mRNA of the rat visual cortex area 17 in the model group was significantly lower than that in the normal group (P<0.01); and the expression of NMDAR1 mRNA in the visual cortex area 17 of each acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in the model group (P<0.05); the effect of acupuncture on NMDAR1 mRNA expression in group C1 and C2 was more significant than that in group D1, D2, E1 and E2; and the effect of acupuncture on NMDAR1 mRNA expression was better in group C2 than in group C1 (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in the expression of NMDAR1 mRNA between group D1 and D2, neither between E1 and E2 (P>0.05).
Conclusion: P-VEP waveform is abnormal and NMDAR1 mRNA expression in visual cortex area 17 is decreased in rats with monocularly-deprived amblyopia. Acupuncture in the sensitive period can significantly regulate the abnormal P-VEP waveform and the down-regulate the NMDAR1 mRNA expression of the visual cortex of rats with monocularly-deprived amblyopia. Early treatment in the sensitive period should be the key to obtaining the curative effect.
