Effects of electric stimulation treatment on motor function and expression of microtubule-associated protein-2 and survivin of brain tissue in cerebral infarction rats

Objective To investigate the effects of electric stimulation on motor function and expression of microtubule-associated protein-2(MAP-2) and survivin of brain tissue in the cerebral infarction rats.Methods Cerebral infarction rat models were made using middle cerebral artery occlusion.After cerebral infarction for 24 h,the rats were respectively treated with electric stimulation on paralyzed(unilateral)or bilateral limbs for 3 d,7 d,14 d,21 d.By using beam walking test(BWT) and immunehistochemistry,the motor function and the expression of MAP-2 and survivin of brain tissue in the border of cerebral infarction area were examined at various time following treatment.Results Compared to control group,the electric stimulation groups showed significant increase in BWT scores after treatment 7 d(all P0.05),with bilateral electric stimulation being more potent in ameliorating motor function than paralysed limbs after treatment 14 d(all P0.05).The expression of MAP-2 of brain tissue in the border of cerebral infarction area was significantly higher in the electric stimulation groups than that in control group from 7 d to 21 d after treatment(all P0.05),as well as that of the bilateral group than the unilateral group 14 d after treatment(all P0.05),while there was no significant difference between the bilateral and sham operation group at 21 d after treatment(P0.05).In the electric stimulation groups,the expression of survivin of brain tissue were obviously higher than those in the sham operation group at various time points(all P0.05),the same result of survivin expression between electric stimulation groups and control group at 7 d and 14 d(all P0.05),furthermore,that of the bilateral electric stimulation group was apparently improved than that in the unilateral group(P0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the level of survivin expression between the electric stimulation groups at 21 d after treatment(all P0.05).Conclusions Treatment with electric stimulation,in particular bilateral electric stimulation,can promote the recovery of motor function of paralyzed limbs and induce up-regulation of expression of MAP-2 and survivin in the brain tissue of cerebral infarction rats.