Effect of electroacupuncture on brain cells apoptosis and nerve function recovery after focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

Objective To investigate the influence of acpuncture on free calcium in rat brain cells after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion.Methods 145 adult male SD rats were randomly divided into control group,simple ischemia reperfusion group and acupuncture with ischemia reperfusion group.The middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) rat model was established by the modified Longa occlusion method. ①The part of free calcium in rat brain cells,focal cevebral ischemia model of rats were made by thread locking up the blood vessel for 15 min.30 min later after reperfusion, the Baihui and Shuigou Point in Du meridian were acupunctured electrically 30 min.After 3h, 6h and 12h, the rat was killed and its brain cells were made into single cell suspension,marked by Fluo-3/AM.The fluorescence optical density was recorded by laser confocal microscopy.②The part of nerve functional reconstruction, focal cevebral ischemia model of rats were made by thread locking up the blood vessel for 12 hours.30 min later after reperfusion, the Baihui and Shuigou Point in Du meridian were acupunctured electrically 30 min.After 7 d, 14 d,30 d,60 d and 90 d, the rat was forced to detect it's strength of the dog.Results ①Free calcium in rats of acupuncture therapy group(6h:10.96±1.18;2h:20.9±4.37) was significantly less than that in control group in 6 h and 12 h after reperfusion (6 h: 16.87 ± 3.56,12 h: 34.10 ±1.06)(P<0.05).②The dog in rats of acupuncture therapy group was significantly more than that in control group in 7 d, 14 d after reperfusion (P＜ 0.05 ).No difference of the dog was detected in 30 d ,60 d and 90 d after reperfusion between the two groups.Conclusion Acupunture could decreases the concentration of free calcium and the expression of Caspase-3 mRNA in rat brain cells after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion, and it can facilitate the recovery of nerve function. Key words: Cerebral ischemia reperfusion;  Electro-acupuncture;  Free calcium;  Caspase-3 mRNA; Nerve function