The effect of electroacupuncture on neurotrophins expression of ischemic cortex in MCAO Rat

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupunture(EA) on brain derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF) and nerve growth factor (NGF) expression of ischemic cortex in rat by immunohistochemical method. Methods The experiment was divided into two groups,ischemia and EA group. The middle cerebral artery (MCA) in Wistar rats was occluded for 75min to result in the focal ischemia. One hour EA was applied immediately after cerebral ischemia.These animals were decapitated at different reperfusion point,and the immunohistochemical method was used evaluate the change of BDNF and NGF expression between ischemia group and EA group. Results It was found that BDNF and NGF immunoreactive cells expressed mainly in the peripheral cortex of the infarction,and both of them were same in the time course of the expression. The expression of BDNF and NGF increased gradually after EA. At 8 hour of reperfusion,it reached the peak,then it decreased gradually. At 12 hour,it returned the level of ischemia group. In EA group the expression of BDNF and NGF in 8 hours of reprefusion was significantly higher than that in ischemia group(P0.01). Conclusion EA may increase expression of BDNF and NGF in the peripheral cortex of the infarction,and it would be protective effect against cerebral ischemia.