The Influence of Acupuncture on ICAM-1 Expression in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury

Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture on cerebral expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1(reperfusion injury) and investigate the mechanism of its protective action in rats with cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury. Methods A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) was made by thread occlusion.A change in ICAM-1 expression was observed by immunohistochemistry in sham operation,model(6,24 and 72 h after reperfusion) and acupuncture(6,24 and 72 h after reperfusion) groups.Results ICAM-1 expression in cerebral microvascular endothelial cells tended to increase at 6 h after reperfusion and peaked at 24 h.There were significant differences between model and acupuncture groups and between model and sham operation groups(P0.01 or P0.05).Conclusion ICAM-1 expression increases after cerebral ischemia.Acupuncture can decrease ICAM-1 expression and thereby reduce ischemic brain injury due to post-ischemic ICAM-1.It is indicated that the mechanism of the preventive action of acupuncture on ischemic brain injury may be related to its inhibition of cerebral ICAM1 expression.