1.The effect of electroacupuncture at Jiaji points on motor function of spinal cord inj ury rats by inhibiting Notch signal pathway
Jiangman Wei ; Yukun An ; Mengxuan Hu ; Hemu Chen
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2023;58(8):1280-1286
Objective :
To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at pinch points (EX⁃B2) on motor function and Notch signaling pathway after spinal cord injury(SCI) .
Methods :
Seventy⁃two Sprague⁃Dawley (SD) male rats weighing (250 ± 20) g were randomly divided into sham operation group , SCI , electroacupuncture group (SCI + EA) and acupuncture group (SCI + AP) , with 18 rats in each group. A rat acute SCI model of T10 was established by the modified Allen ′s method. The SCI + EA and SCI + AP groups received 15 minutes of electro acupuncture or acupuncture treatment per day. The motor function of the hind limbs of rats was assessed by Basso , Beattie and Bresnahan ( BBB) scoring method , the pathological recovery changes of spinal cord tissues were observed by Hematoxylin⁃eosin (HE) staining , and the mRNA and protein expression levels of Hes 3 , Notch 3 and Notch 4 were detected by real⁃time quantitative PCR and estern blot method , respectively , after 3 , 7 and 14 days of intervention. The expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was detected by immunohistochemistry after 14 days of intervention.
Results :
Compared with the sham group , the BBB scores were reduced in rats after SCI surgery and there was significant hemorrhage , structural destruction and degeneration of spinal cord tissue ( P < 0. 05) , while the SCI + EA and SCI + AP groups were milder than the SCI group (P < 0. 05) . The mRNA expression levels and protein expression levels of Hes 3 , Notch 3 and Notch 4 as well as the expression levels of GFAP appeared significantly higher in the SCI group compared with the sham group (P < 0. 05) , while the SCI + EA group appeared lower compared with the SCI group (P < 0. 05) .
Conclusion
EA of EX⁃B2 can improve the locomotor function of rats with SCI , which may be related to inhibiting the expression of GFAP and the activation of Notch signaling pathway.