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Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on activities of A2 type astrocytes(A2s)and A1 type astrocytes (A1s) , expressions of neurofilament protein 200 (NF-200, a marker of axon regeneration), nexin 1(NL1, a marker of synaptic regeneration), and regeneration of Nissl bodies in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of SCI., Methods: A total of 75 male SD rats were rando-mized into sham operation, model, antibody neutralizing (AN), EA and EA+AN groups, with 15 rats in each group. The SCI model was established by using an infinite field impactor to deliver an about 200 k dyne weight onto the exposed spinal cord after making a dorsal laminectomy at vertebral level T10. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) was applied to"Dazhui"(GV14) and "Mingmen"(GV4) for 20 min, once daily for 28 days. After modeling, intraspinal injection of neutralizing antibodies IL-1α, TNF-α and complement 1q (C1q, 2 μL) to the injured spinal locus for inhibition of A1 type astrocytes (A1s) was conducted on the 1 st , 7 th , 14 th and 21 st day for rats of AN and EA+AN groups. BBB rating scale was used to evaluate hindlimb locomotor function on day 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after modeling. The activation of A2s (its specific marker S100a10), astrocyte (its specific marker glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP), and A1s (its specific marker C3) in the spinal cord was detected by immunofluorescence, and the protein expressions of NF-200 and NL1 in the spinal cord detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, separately, and the neuronal regeneration was observed after Nissl staining., Results: After SCI, the BBB scores at 1 , 7, 14, 21 and 28 day, and the immunoactivity of NL1 and NF-200 were significantly decreased ( P <0.01), and the fluorescence intensity of double labelled S100a10 (A2s)/GFAP and C3, and the expression of NF-200 were considerably increased in the model group ( P <0.05, P <0.01). In contrast to the model group, the BBB scores at 7, 14, 21 and 28 day, and the immunoactivity of NL1 and NF-200, and the fluorescence intensity of A2s/GFAP in the AN, EA and AN+EA groups, and the expressions of NL1 in the EA and AN+EA groups, and expression of NF-200 protein in the AN+EA group were evidently increased ( P <0.05, P <0.01), and the fluorescence intensity of C3 was strikingly decreased in the EA group ( P <0.01). The effect of AN+EA was significantly superior to that of single AN and EA in increasing BBB scores at 14, 21 and 28 day, and in up-regulating the immunoactivity of NF-200( P <0.01, P <0.05). Nissl staining showed damaged structure of the gray matter of the spinal cord, atrophy of the Nissl body, and pyknosis of neurons, which was milder in the AN and EA groups, particularly in the AN+EA group., Conclusion: EA at GV14 and GV4 may promote activation of A2s and promote regeneration of axons and synapses in SCI model rats.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture（EA） on the expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 （cPLA2） and apoptosis of nerve cells in rats with spinal cord injury （SCI）, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of SCI., Methods: Seventy-two female SD rats were randomly divided into model, EA, antagonist and EA+antagonist groups, with 18 rats in each group and other 18 rats were used as the sham operation （sham） group. The SCI model was established by referring to modified Allen's method with a weight impactor. The hindlimb motor function was assessed by using Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan （BBB） score. Rats of the EA group were subjected to EA stimulation at "Dazhui"（GV14）, "Yaoyangguan"（GV3）, bilateral "Ciliao"（BL32） and "Zusanli"（ST36） for 20 min, once a day for 14 days. Rats of the antagonist group received intravenous injection followed by intraperitoneal injection of arachidonyl trifluoromethyl ketone （AACOCF3, antagonist of cPLA2）, once every other day. Rats of the EA+antagonist group received EA treatment combined with antagonist injection. After the treatment, the rats were sacrificed and the spinal cord tissue was collected for detecting the protein expression of cPLA2, p-cPLA2, Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 by Western blot, and the mRNA expression of cPLA2, Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase-3 using qRT-PCR. The morphological changes of the spinal cord were detected by Nissl staining., Results: In comparison with the sham group, the BBB score, expression of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were significantly down-regulated （ P <0.01）, whereas the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 and p-cPLA2 proteins and mRNAs were considerably up-regulated in the model group （ P <0.01）. Compared with the model group, the BBB score, expression levels of Bcl-2 protein and mRNA were significantly up-regulated （ P <0.01, P <0.05）, while the expression levels of Bax, Caspase-3 and p-cPLA2 proteins in the EA, antagonist and EA+antagonist groups, Bax and cPLA2 mRNAs in both antagonist and EA+antagonist groups, and Caspase-3 mRNA in the EA+antagonist group were obviously down-regulated （ P <0.01, P <0.05）. The effect of EA+antagonist was significantly superior to EA in increasing BBB score and in lowering expression of Bax and cPLA2 mRNAs （ P <0.01, P <0.05）. Nissl staining showed reduced number of nerve cells and Nissl bodies, and striped dark blue cells in the model group, which was milder in the EA and antagonist groups, particularly in the EA+antagonist group., Conclusion: EA may improve the limb motor function of SCI rats, which may be related to its functions in down-regulating the expression of p-cPLA2, Bax and Caspase-3 and up-regulating Bcl-2 to reduce the apoptosis of nerve cells in the regional spinal cord.

Objective: To observe the effect of moxibustion treatment on the expression of Nogo-A, Nogo receptor (NgR), neurotrophin receptor p75 (p75NTR) and leucine rich repeat and Ig domain containing 1 (Lingo-1) in brain tissue of rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/RI), so as to analyze its mechanism underlying improvement of CI/RI., Methods: Male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (16 rats), model group (17 rats), NEP1-40 (extracellular peptide residues 1-40, a blocker targeting NgR) group (model+blocker, 17 rats) and moxibustion group (model+moxibustion, 17 rats). The CI/RI model was established by occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Moxibustion was applied to "Baihui"(GV20), right "Quchi"(LI11) and "Zusanli"(ST36) for 20 min, once a day for 14 days, with 2 days' rest after the top 7 days' intervention. For rats of the NEP1-40 group, 30 μL PBS containing 18 μg NEP 1-40 was injected into the epidural inferior vena (L5-S1) via a polyvinyl chloride conduit. The neurological deficit state in each group was evaluated by Longa's 5-point scale and Feeney's 7-point scale of beam walking test (BWT). The cerebral infarct volume was assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazole chloride staining. The brain tissue between the central anterior and posterior sulcus was taken for observing the expression of NgR and Lingo-1 by fluorescence double-label method, and for determining the expression levels of Nogo-A, NgR, p75NTR and Lingo-1 mRNAs and proteins by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively., Results: After modeling, the Longa's score, infarct volu-me percent, expression levels of Nogo-A, NgR, Lingo-1 and p75NTR mRNAs and proteins were significantly increased ( P <0.01) and BWT score was obviously decreased ( P <0.01) in the model group relevant to the sham operation group. In comparison with the model group, the increase of Longa's score, infarct volume percentage, expression levels of Nogo-A, NgR, Lingo-1 and p75NTR mRNAs and proteins and decrease of BWT score in NEP1-40 and moxibustion groups were reversed ( P <0.01) except Nogo-A protein in the NEP1-40 group. The effect of moxibustion was significantly superior to that of blocker NEP1-40 in redu-cing the infarct volume percentage, and down-regulating the expression of Nogo-A mRNA and protein, p75NTR mRNA and protein, NgR and Lingo-1 proteins ( P <0.01, P <0.05)., Conclusion: Moxibustion, similar to blocker NEP1-40 of NgR, can improve neurological dysfunction in CI/RI rats, which may be related to its functions in reducing cerebral infarction and down-regulating the activity of Nogo/neurotrophin receptor signaling pathway.

Objective : To determine the changes of gene and protein expression through Rho/ROCK signaling pathway in EA treated spinal cord injury (SCI) rats and to unveil the possible underlying mechanism. Design : Animal study. Setting : Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Participants : Eighty Male Sprague Dawley rats. Interventions : Electroacupuncture at Yaoyangguan (GV3), Dazhui (GV14), Zusanli (ST36) and Ciliao (BL32) and/or blocking agent Y27632 treatment. Outcome Measures : Protein expression was detected by ELISA and Western blotting, mRNA expression was detected by quantitative PCR and in situ hybridization. Morphological changes in spinal cord were evaluated by HE-staining and Nissl staining. Hindlimb motor function in the rats was evaluated by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) assessment methods. Results : Compared with injured rats in SCI group, EA, blocking agent Y27632 and EA + blocking agent Y27632 treatment had significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression levels of RhoA and ROCKII, decreased p-MLC protein expression and p-MLC/MLC ratio, suppressed cPLA2 activity and PGE 2 level, improved spinal cord tissue morphology and BBB score of lower limb movement function at 7 days and at 14 days (P < 0.01 or <0.05). Conclusion : Similar to the blocking agent Y27632, EA may have a notable inhibitory effect on the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway after SCI, therefore reducing the inhibition of axonal growth and inflammatory reaction may be a key mechanism of EA treatment for SCI.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at "Dazhui" (GV 14) and "Mingmen" (GV 4) of the Governor Vessel at different time-points on spinal cord neuronal apoptosis and the expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) protein in spinal cord injury (SCI) rats, so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improving SCI., Methods: A total of 108 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, SCI model and EA groups which were further divided into 1, 3 and 7 d subgroups (12 rats/subgroup, 6 rats in each subgroup for TUNEL or Western blot, separately). SCI model was established by using the modified Allen's method. EA was applied to GV 14 and GV 4 for 20 min, once daily, for 1, 3 and 7 days, respectively. Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scale was adopted to assess the locomotor function of rats, the TUNEL method was used to examine neuronal apoptosis of injuried spinal cord, and the expression of phosphorylated (p)-c-Jun protein of T 9 -T 11 spinal cord was detected by using Western blot., Results: After modeling, the BBB scores of SCI rats on day 1, 3 and 7 were signi-ficantly decreased ( P <0.01), while the numbers of apoptotic neuronal cells and the expression levels of p-c-Jun protein in the spinal cord were considerably increased at the 3 time-points in the model group ( P <0.01, P <0.05). Following EA intervention, the decreased BBB scores on day 3 and 7, and the increased numbers of apoptotic neuronal cells on day 1, 3 and 7 and the up-regulated expression levels of p-c-Jun protein on day 3 and 7 were obviously suppressed ( P <0.05, P <0.01)., Conclusions: EA intervention can improve the locomotor function of SCI rats, which Feb be related to its effects in reducing neuronal apoptosis and down-regulating p-c-Jun protein in the injuried spinal cord.

In an effort to explore new, noninvasive treatment options for spinal cord injuries (SCI), this study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) for SCI rat models. SCI was induced by a modified Allen's weight-drop method. We investigated the response of EA at Dazhui (GV 14) and Mingmen (GV 4) acupoints to understand the effects and mechanisms of EA in neuroprotection and neuronal function recovery after SCI. BBB testing was used to detect motor function of rats' hind limbs among groups, and EA was shown to promote the recovery of SCI rats' motor function. Nissl staining showed a restored neural morphology and an increase in the quantity of neurons after EA. Also, the antiapoptosis role was exposed by TUNEL staining. Western blotting analysis was used to determine the protein expression of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in spinal cord tissue. Compared to the sham group, the expression levels of NT-3 were significantly decreased and EA was shown to upregulate the expression of NT-3. The present study suggests that the role of EA in neuroprotection and dorsal neuronal function recovery after SCI in rats, especially EA stimulation at GV 14 and GV 4, can greatly promote neuronal function recovery, which may result from upregulating the expression of NT-3.

Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin (MT) in depression rats model induced by chronic stress, so as to explore the biological mechanism of EA for depression., Methods: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group and an EA group, 8 cases in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with normal diet for 21 days without any treatment. In the model and EA group, rat model was established by chronic unpredictable stress combined with solitarily feeding method, and rats in the EA group was treated with EA at "Baihui" (GV 20), "Yintang" (GV 29) 1 h before stress stimulation everyday, 2 Hz in frequency and intensity was favorable with the head of rat slightly shivering. The needles were retained for 20 min, once a day for totally 21 days. After EA treatment, open-field experiment was adopted to observe the behavioral improvement; the rats temperatures were monitored at six time points (2:00, 6:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00, 22:00) and orbital blood sampling was collected. The level of serum MT was tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The circadian rhythm changes of temperature and serum MT in each group were compared., Results: The numbers of horizontal movement and vertical movement in the model group were obviously lower than those in the control group (both P < 0.05), while those in the EA group were significantly improved compared with those in the model group (both P < 0.01). The circadian rhythm of temperature and MT disappeared in the model group, which was improved into normal level after EA treatment., Conclusion: The electroacupuncture has regulation effects on circadian rhythm of temperature and melatonin in depression rat model induced by chronic stress.

This paper summarized the Chinese literatures in the previous 5 years about the pre-clinical animal researches on the application of electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment for depression, searched in China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). The efficiency of EA treatment for depression and the mechanism of it were discussed, to shed light on new ideas and new fronts for the further research on depression in clinical or pre-clinical fields.

Objective: To observe the influence of music-electroacupuncture (EA) and pulse EA on locomotor activity and hippocampal neuron numbers and excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs) mRNA expression in depression rats, so as to explore their mechanisms underlying improvement of depression in acupuncture clinic., Method: Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into blank control, depression model, medication, pulse EA and music-EA groups, with 12 rats in each group. Depression model was established by using chronic unpredictable mild stress protocols combined with solitary feeding. Rats of the medication group were treated by oral administration of fluoxetine (a standard antidepressant, 2 mg/kg). EA was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Yintang" (EX-HN 3) for 20 min, once a day for 21 days. The animals' ethological changes were detected by using field tests for recording the number of crossing squares and the number of rearing. The number of hippocampal neurons were calculated under microscope after Nissl's staining of the hippocampal tissue section. Hippocampal EAAT 1 and EAAT 2 mRNA expression levels were assayed by fluorescent quantitative real-time POR., Results: In comparison with the blank control group, the numbers of crossing and rearing movements, as well as the expression levels of hippocampal EAAT 1 and EAAT 2 mRNA were significantly lower in the model group (P < 0.01), while compared with the model group, the numbers of both crossing and rearing movements of the medication, pulse EA and music-EA groups were obviously increased (P < 0.01). Correspondingly, the expression levels of hippocampal EAAT 1 and EAAT 2 mRNA were considerably upregulated in the pulse EA and music-EA groups in comparison with the model group (P < 0.01). No significant differences were found among the medication, pulse EA and music-EA groups (P > 0.05). Results of Nissl's staining displayed that in the model group, the hippocampal neurons were loose in arrangement and some of them were absent, but in the medication, pulse EA and music-EA groups, the neurons were clear in shape and lined in order., Conclusion: Both pulse EA and music-EA can effectively improve the locomotor activity and hippocampal neuronal structure in depression rats which may be closely associated with their effects in upregulating hippocampal EAAT 1 and EAAT 2 mRNA expression.

Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a form of physical therapy that has been widely used in clinical practice in China. Post-stroke depression (PSD) is the most common neuropsychiatric complication after stroke. EA has been shown to have beneficial effects on PSD patients. However, the potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of EA on PSD remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)/brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling pathway participates in the therapeutic effects of EA in a rat PSD model. Methods: Experimental PSD was induced by combining middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) with chronic unpredictable mild stimulation (CUMS) in adult male rats. Bodyweight gain, neurological score, sucrose preference, and open field test were determined at 0, 7, 14, and 35 days after completing MCAO. The protein expressions of tPA, precursor BDNF (proBDNF), mature BDNF (mBDNF), and TrkB were measured by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. The tPA inhibitor plasminogen inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was used to explore whether tPA plays a crucial role in the protective effects of EA on PSD. Results: Compared with the sham rats, the PSD rats showed decreased bodyweight, deteriorated neurological score, and significant depressive-like behaviors. EA remarkably reversed bodyweight loss, neurological deficit, and depressive-like behaviors in PSD rats. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis showed that PSD-induced decreased expression of tPA, mBDNF, and TrkB were prevented by EA. Furthermore, we found that the effects of EA against PSD-induced depressive-like behaviors were abolished by PAI-1, the specific inhibitor of tPA. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the improvement in depressive-like behaviors induced by EA is likely achieved via activation of the tPA/BDNF/TrkB pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To observe the changes of Nogo/NgR and Rho/ROCK signaling pathway-related gene and protein expression in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI) treated with electroacupuncture (EA) and to further investigate the possible mechanism of EA for treating SCI. Methods: Allen's method was used to create the SCI rat model. Sixty-four model rats were further subdivided into four subgroups, namely, the SCI model group (SCI), EA treatment group (EA), blocking agent Y27632 treatment group (Y27632) and EA+blocking agent Y27632 treatment group (EA+Y), according to the treatment received. The rats were subjected to EA and/or blocking agent Y27632 treatment. After 14 days, injured spinal cord tissue was extracted for analysis. The mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Cell apoptosis changes in the spinal cord were evaluated by in situ hybridization. Hindlimb motor function in the rats was evaluated by Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan assessment methods. Results: Except for RhoA protein expression, compared with the SCI model group, EA, blocking agent Y27632 and EA+blocking agent Y27632 treatment groups had significantly reduced mRNA and protein expression of Nogo-A, NgR, LINGO-1, RhoA and ROCK II in spinal cord tissues, increased mRNA and protein expression of MLCP, decreased p-MYPT1 protein expression and p-MYPT1/MYPT1 ratio, and caspase3 expression, and improved lower limb movement function after treatment for 14 days (P<0.01 or <0.05). The combination of EA and the blocking agent Y27632 was superior to EA or blocking agent Y27632treatment alone (P < 0.01 or <0.05). Conclusion: EA may have an obvious inhibitory effect on the Nogo/NgR and Rho/ROCK signaling pathway after SCI, thereby reducing the inhibition of axonal growth, which may be a key mechanism of EA treatment for SCI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]