Effects of EA on IL-1RImRNA and Protein Expression in the Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Rats

Objective To investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of Interleukin 1 receptor type Ⅰ(IL 1RI)mRNA and protein in focal middle cerebral artery occlusion rat. Methods In situ hybridization and immunohistology was used to detect the expression of IL 1RImRNA and prortein in the brain of middle cerebral artery occlusion rats. Results The normal and sham rats showed a basic expression of IL 1RImRNA and protein in cortex. The cells express IL 1RImRNA were increased after 2 h after reperfusion, maximally increased in ischemic cortex by 6 h of reperfusion and prolonged up to 24 h. The number of IL 1RI protein positive cells increased after ischemia. It increased by 6 h and reached the peak at 12 h in ischemic cortex after reperfusion. EA could downregulate the expression of IL 1RImRNA and protein in ischemic cortex. Conclusion The results indicated that the downregulated expression of IL 1RImRNA and protein may be one of the mechanisms of EA protect ischemic damage.