Experimental Study on the Apoptosis and IRE1 Protein Expression in Spinal Cord Injury ( SCI) Rats by Electroacupuncture ( EA)

Objective: To explore the effect of electroacupuncture on the regulative mechanism of apoptosis and the expression of IRE1 protein in rats after spinal cord injury(SCI).Methods: 132 healthy SD male rats were randomly divided into Sham group,Model group,Methylprednisolone group,Electroacupuncture(EA) treatment group(Rarefaction Wave group),with 33 rats in each group.Each group was also randomly divided into three time points(8 h,3 d,7 d).The apoptosis after spinal cord injured was observed by TUNEL and IRE1 protein expression was observed by Western Blot's method.Results: Changes of TUNEL Staining of Model group and Methylprednisolone group were as follows: cell chromatin condensed and aggregated spot-like along Model the nuclear membrane edge with cytoplasm hyperchromia.The degree of apoptosis in Electroacupuncture treatment group was relatively less than the Methylprednisolone group.After spinal cord injury,IRE1 protein degree in Model group was obviously up-regulated.Methylprednisolone group and Electroacupuncture treatment group were less than Model group,which was compared in the degree of IRE1 protein expression in each time point,after Mehylprednisolone and electroacupuncture treatments were intervened.Compared with the Methylprednisolone group,IRE1 protein expression in Rarefaction wave group was significant(P 0.05).Conclusion: Electroacupuncture treatment can reduce secondary nerve injury after spinal cord injury,and reduce IRE1 expression level,which may be one of the mechanisms.