Effect of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage via regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway
10.1007/s11726-018-1029-z
- VernacularTitle:针刺调控泛素-蛋白酶体途径对干预海洛因脑损伤的影响
- Author:
Li-Da ZHANG
;
Jiang-Peng CAO
;
Xing-Hui CAI
;
Sheng-Bing WU
;
Xiao-Rong HOU
;
Yong-Long GAO
;
Rong-Jun ZHANG
;
Xiao-Ge SONG
;
Jue HONG
- Keywords:
Acupuncture Therapy;
Ubiqutins;
Proteasome;
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome;
Heroin Dependence;
Brain Injuries;
Rats
- From:
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science
2018;16(2):80-88
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture in regulating ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP),and discuss the action of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.Methods:Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into a control group,a model group and an acupuncture group by using the random number table.Rats in the model and acupuncture groups received intramuscular heroin injection for successive 8 d at a progressively increased dose.Afterwards,the injection was suspended for 5 d for withdrawal.The heroin relapse rat model was established by repeating the drug addiction and withdrawal process for 3 times.The control group followed the step of the model establishment,but was given intramuscular injection of normal saline at the stage of addiction and no intervention at the stage of withdrawal;the model group was given intramuscular heroin injection at a progressively increased dose at the addiction stage and no intervention at the withdrawal stage;the acupuncture group was dealt in the same way as the model group at the addiction stage,but received acupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14) at the withdrawal stage,with the needles retained for 30 min each time,1 session a day,for successive 5 d.On the 39th day,brain tissues were extracted from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the three groups of rats.The apoptosis of brain nerve cells was detected by using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick and labeling (TUNEL).The mRNA and protein expressions of ubiquitin (Ub),ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) and 26S were examined by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).Results:Compared with the model group,rat's hippocampus and VTA in the acupuncture group showed significantly fewer cells positively stained by TUNEL staining (P＜0.01),and its mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3,26S were significantly lower (P＜0.01).Conclusion:Reducing nerve cell apoptosis and regulating the mRNA and protein expressions of Ub,E3 and 26S in rat's hippocampus and VTA are possibly one of the action mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening heroin-induced brain damage.
