Effect of Electroacupuncture on the Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia

Objective:To observe the influence of electroacupuncture(EA)on the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein(GFAP)and ultrastructure changes of astrocytes in rats with focal cerebral ischemia at different times so as to explore its underlying mechanism in the treatment of cerebral ischemia.Methods:Ninety Wistar rats were randomized into sham group,model group and EA group.Each group was observed at 1h,1d,3d,7d and 21d after cerebral ischemia,with 6 cases in each.Heat-coagulation-induced occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was performed to establish the model of focal cerebral ischemia.EA(5~10times/s,2~3V)was applied to Baihui(GV20)and Dazhui(GV14)in EA group for 30min.The changes of ultrastructure and GFAP of astrocyte were observed by using transmission electronic microscope and immunohistochemical method.Results:Swollen and increasing astrocytes were observed after cerebral ischemia,but in comparison with model group,the degree of swelling of astrocytes were decreased obviously in EA group.In comparison with sham group at 1h,there have no significant differences of the expression of GFAP in astrocytes in EA group and model group(P0.05),while the expression of GFAP in astrocytes in EA group and model group both increased significantly at 1d,3d,7d and 21d(P0.01),and the expression of GFAP in astrocytes in EA group were significantly lower than those of model group(P0.05,P0.01).Conclusion:hyperplasy of reactivity and ultrastructure changes of astrocytes in the marginal zone after cerebral ischemia are observed.EA can relieve the degree of swelling of astrocytes and inhibit overexpression of GFAP.EA can treat cerebral ischemia,which may be related to intervene the state of activation of astrocytes.