Exploring the protective mechanism of electroacupuncture at Neiguan points on acute high-altitude hypoxic brain injury based on PI3K/AKT signaling pathway
10.16289/j.cnki.1002-0837.2025.04014
- VernacularTitle:基于PI3K/AKT信号通路探讨电针内关穴对急性高原缺氧性脑损伤的保护机制
- Author:
Yongping LI
1
;
Xiuping CHEN
;
Yuping SA
;
Li TONG
;
Yanming REN
;
Yi GUO
Author Information
1. 青海大学中医系,西宁 810001;青海省糖脂代谢疾病防控中医药重点实验室,西宁 810001
- Keywords:
electroacupuncture;
Neiguan points;
Acute high altitude hypoxic brain injury;
EPO;
PI3K/AKT
- From:Space Medicine & Medical Engineering
2025;36(4):362-366
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To explore the preventive effect and protective mechanism of electroacupuncture at Neiguan points on acute high altitude hypoxic brain injury by detecting the expression of EPO,p-PI3K,p-AKT and Bcl-2 proteins.Methods 48 male SD rats of SPF grade were randomly divided into control group,model group,western medicine group and Neiguan group.The acute high altitude hypoxic brain injury model was established using a hypobaric hypoxia chamber.The Western medication group received Citicoline Sodium via gastric gavage administration,while the Neiguan acupoint group was administered bilateral electroacupuncture stimulation at the Neiguan acupoints.The morphological changes of hippocampal tissues were observed by HE method,serum biochemical indexes were determined by ELISA method,neuronal apoptosis of rat hippocampal tissues was observed by TUNEL method and the positive rate was calculated,and the expression levels of EPO,p-PI3K,p-AKT and Bcl-2 proteins were detected in rat hippocampal tissues by Western-blot method.Results Compared with the control group,the model group exhibited extensive necrotic pyramidal cells with pyknotic and deeply stained nuclei,significantly elevated serum levels of GFAP,S100B,and UCH-L1(P<0.01),markedly increased hippocampal neuronal apoptosis(P<0.01),and upregulated protein levels of EPO,p-PI3K,p-AKT,and Bcl-2 in hippocampal tissue(P<0.01).Compared with the model group,both the western medication group and the electroacupuncture at Neiguan group exhibited a significant reduction in necrotic pyramidal cells in brain tissue,with occasional pyknotic and deeply stained nuclei.Serum levels of GFAP,S100B,and UCH-L1 were markedly decreased(P<0.01),hippocampal neuronal apoptosis was significantly reduced(P<0.01),and protein expression of EPO,p-PI3K,p-AKT,and Bcl-2 in hippocampal tissue was upregulated(P<0.01).No statistically significant differences were observed between the western medication group and the Neiguan electroacupuncture group(P>0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Neiguan may ameliorate acute high-altitude hypoxic brain injury,potentially through modulating EPO protein expression to activate the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway,thereby inhibiting hippocampal neuronal apoptosis.
