The regulation of electroacupuncture on the autophagy related gene beclin-1 expression of rats with spinal cord injure

Objective To study the effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of autophagy related gene Beclin-1 after spinal cord injury in rats. Methods A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham), model group (Model) and electroacupuncture group (EA), 12 rats in each group. The sham group underwent laminectomy, without spinal cord injury; Model group and EA group were treated with NYU spinal cord preparation model of spinal cord injury blow system. After the operation, the EA group was treated with electroacupuncture. The other groups were treated with the same conditions, and the BBB limb movement function was scored every day, and 3 days after the operation were sacrificed. The expression of Beclin-1 was detected by immunohistochemical method, and the expression of Beclin-1 protein was detected by Western blot, and the expression of Beclin-1 mRNA was detected by qPCR. Results On the 3 day after operation, the BBB scores (2.94 ± 0.22 vs. 2.03 ± 0.18) of EA group was significantly higher than those in Model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the mean light density (0.64 ± 0.20 vs. 0.80 ± 0.17), the expression of Beclin-1 protein (0.59 ± 0.22 vs.0.71 ± 0.19) and the Beclin-1 mRNA (0.55 ± 0.12 vs. 0.77 ± 0.14) expression of Beclin1 positive expression in the electroacupuncture group significantly decreased, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions The expression of autophagy related gene Beclin-1 increased in spinal cord after spinal cord injury. EA could down regulate the expression of Beclin-1 protein and mRNA and inhibit autophagy level, which may be one of the reasons for electroacupuncture to promote the recovery of limb motor function in rats with spinal cord injury. Key words: Electroacupuncture; Spinal cord injury; Autophagy; Rats