Effects of Scalp-acupuncture on Expression of Bcl-2/Bax in Acute Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury Rats

Objective:To explore the possible mechanisms of Scalp-acupuncture(SA) in treating cerebral ischemia.Method:Rat models with middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) were used and 80 models were randomized into sham operation group(n=10),model group(n=40) and SA group(n=40) and we observed changes of neurofunctional defect,inflammatory infiltration in cerebral tissue and contents of Bcl-2,Bax in 6h,24h,48h and 72h.Results:(1) On NSS at each phase point:SA group demonstrated obvious decline in NSS at 72h when compared with that of model group(P0.01).(2) TUNEL test:Model ischemic neuronal cell apoptosis increase with a few extension of reperfusion time,reached the peak in 24h;Scalp acupuncture treatment can significantly reduce the number of neuronal apoptosis,especially in 24h and 48h sub-groups(P0.01).(3) Western bloting test:60min cerebral ischemia and reperfusion,Bcl-2,Bax expression in both side of the brain infarction,and reached a peak within 24h;But when the time passed,the treatment group of Bcl-2/Bax protein value reduced slowly than the model group.Conclusions:Cerebral ischemia induced the inforcement of Bcl-2,Bax gene expression.The possible mechanisms of SA against brain ischemia may be concerned with inhibiting cell apoptosis reaction,reduce cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury to achieve the protective effect of brain tissuetosis.