Objective To investigate the effect of skull acupuncture on cerebral infarct volume and plasma SOD activity and MDA and NO contents. Method Forty-eight male SPF-grade SD rats were randomized into sham operation, model and skull acupuncture groups. A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was made by intraluminal thread occlusion. Rat nerve function was assessed by Zea Longa neurological function scoring. Rat cerebral infarct volume was measured by TTC staining. Plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) contents were measured by colorimetry. Result Rat neurobehavioral score was significantly lower on day 1, 3 and 7 in the model group than in the sham operation group (P<0.01). TTC measurement showed that cerebral infarct volume was significantly smaller in the skull acupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.01). Plasma SOD activity was lower and MDA and NO contents were higher in the model group than in the sham operation group (all P<0.01). Plasma SOD activity increased and MDA and NO contents decreased after skull acupuncture treatment compared with the model group (all P<0.01). Conclusion Skull acupuncture has a protective effect against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and can increase plasma SOD activity and decrease plasma MDA and NO contents in rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury.

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the cell behaviors of rat primary osteoblast cells on extracellular matrix (ECM) protein micropatterns. For this purpose, a series of fibronectin micropatterns with different shapes and varying dimensions were created on polystyrene (PS) surfaces by microcontact printing. The results of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) images indicated that excellent micropatterns were successfully obtained. These protein patterns were stable during the cell culture. The cell experiments suggested that the osteoblast cells preferentially attached onto protein-functionalized areas and displayed different cell shape and spreading behavior on different protein micropatterns. The protein micropatterns can significantly influence the cell adhesion, spreading, alignment and orientation and so on. Therefore, this work can be used to modify biomaterial surfaces, especially that of bone-implant biomaterials, to effectively control cell behavior. It further contributes to clarify the interfacial biological behaviors between biomaterials and osteoblast and can provide the cues for development of bone implantable materials which is able to modulate osteoblast cell growth behavior.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Extracellular Matrix Proteins ; pharmacology ; Osteoblasts ; cytology ; Rats ; Surface Properties