Effects of Electric Acupuncture on Expression of GAP-43 in Ventral Horn of Spinal Cord of Sciatic Nerve Injury Rats

Objective:Through the research on changes of GAP-43 expression in ventral horn of spinal cord of sciatic nerve injury rats,the study can explore the biological mechanisms of electric acupuncture on the treatment of sciatic nerve injury.Methods:After making the model of sciatic nerve clamping damage,we observed the rats' behavior change through inclined plane test.Through the research on changes of GAP-43 expression in ventral horn of spinal cord,approach and mechanism were revealed by electric acupuncture on sciatic nerve injury.Results:Seven days after making the model,inclined plate test results showed that movement function of sciatic nerve injury rats was significantly declined(P0.01).Ten days after therapy,the results of therapy group were obviously higher than that of model group and model control group(P0.01),and already close to normal group.Twenty days after therapy,the results of therapy group had reached even more than normal group level,and compared with the model group and model control group there were still significant difference(P0.01).The results of GAP-43 showed that:after seven days of sciatic nerve injured,GAP-43 expression of model group was significantly increased compared with the normal group and sham-operation group(P0.05).After ten and twenty days of electric acupuncture therapy,the results of GAP-43 from electric acupuncture therapy group had significant difference compared with model group(P0.05),and significantly increased than that in model control group(P0.05).Conclusion:Electric acupuncture can promote the expression of GAP-43 in ventral horn of spinal cord and the regeneration of injured nerves,consequently provide a good microenvironment for the injured nerve,and in the end enhance the sensory function of rats with sciatic nerve injury.