Effects of eye-acupuncture on the expression of brainderived neurotrophic factor in the brain of rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion

Objective To observe the effects of eye-acupuncture therapy and bodyacupuncture therapy on the expression of brain-deprived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI). Methods According to random number table, 48 SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including normal control group (group A), sham operation group (group B), model group (group C), eye-acupuncture group (group D), non-acupoint of eye-acupuncture group (group E) and body-acupuncture group (group F), eight rats in each group. Artery infarction reperfusion model were prepared by using suture-occluded method. Liver region, upper energizer area, lower energizer area and kidney region were selected in the group D. Acupuncture was carried out at the point located at 3 mm from the acupoint areas in the group E. Qūchi (曲池 LI 11), Zusānl (足三里 ST 36) and other acupoints were selected in the group F. Zea Longa scoring method was utilized for scoring the neural functions of rats; real-time PCR was carried out to examine the expression level of BDNF mRNA in the brain 72 h after ischemia reperfusion; western blot was carried out to examine the expression level of BDNF protein in the brain 72 h after ischemia reperfusion. Results The symptoms of neurologic impairments in the rats of the group D were alleviated in comparison to those in the group C (P0.01), and the difference between the group D and the group F was not statistically significant (P0.05); Compared with the group C, the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF in the brain of rats in the group D and the group F both increased (P0.01), but the difference between the group D and the group F was not statistically significant (P0.05). Conclusion The functions of eye-acupuncture and body-acupuncture in improving cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury are similar, and the functional mechanisms for the two different therapies may be related to the up-regulation of BDNF expression in brain and thus promote the repairing of brain tissues.