Effects of electroacupuncture on the activity of mitochondrial complexes in Parkinson′s disease model rat′s nigral cell

Objective To explore the effects of electro acupuncture treatment on nigral cell mitochondria function in Parkinson′s disease(PD) model rats and r eveal the mechanism of acupuncture treatment on PD by detecting mitochondrial co mpl exes activity change of PD model rat nigral cell. Methods 48 SD rats were divided into 4 groups randomly: n ormal,solvent control,model and electroacupuncture therapy groups.PD model w as made by subcutaneous injection of rotenone in the back of neck.The behavio r of rat was scored according to the standard of the behavior science calcul ated.TH positive neuron count of substantia nigra was detected by immunohistoc hemical method.The activity of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ～Ⅳ were detected by u ltraviolet spectrophotometry. Results Compared with model group,the abnormal changes o f electroacupuncture therapy group were small(P0.05).Compared with mo del group,TH positive neuron count of substantia nigra of electroacupuncture t herapy group was increased significantly(P0.01).The activity of mitoc hondrial complex Ⅰ of model group was lower than that of normal group(P 0.01),and the activity of mitochondrial complex Ⅰ of electroacupunc ture therapy group was lower than that of model group(P0.01).While th e activity of mitochondrial complex Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳhad no obvious difference. Conclusions Electroacupuncture therapy can improve the ab normal behaviors and the activity o f mitochondrial complexes and also can reduce the loss of dopamine neurons in su bstantia nigra.It explains that the dysfunction of mitochondrial Ⅰ plays an i m portant role in PD and it also can be one of the target points of electroacupunc ture therapy.