Effect of Electroacupuncture at Meridian Points on Serum Interleukin in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury

Objective To investigate,from immunoregulation,the effect of electroacupuncture at meridian points on serum interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin-6(IL-6) in rats with cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.Methods A rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) and reperfusion injury was made by a modified thread-occlusion method.Wistar rats were randomly allocated to five groups,normal,sham operation,model,non-meridian point electroacupuncture and meridian point electroacupuncture.Each group was randomly divided according to three time points,1 d,3 d and 7 d.IL-1β and IL-6 contents of rat serum were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results There were significant differences in the measured indices between the model and normal groups(P0.01,P0.05).At time points 1 d and 3 d,serum IL-1β content was significantly decreased(P0.05,P0.01) and serum IL-6 content was significantly increased(P0.05,P0.01) in the meridian point electroacupuncture group compared with the model group and the non-meridian point electroacupuncture group.Conclusion Electroacupuncture at meridian points has a specific regulating effect on serum IL-1β and IL-6 in rats with cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury.The regulation of cytokine IL-1β and IL-6 contents may be one of the mechanisms of protective action of electroacupuncture at meridian points on the brain injured by ischemia and reperfusion.