[Effects of electroacupuncture preconditioning on expression of nitric oxide synthase and glial fibrillary acidic protein in cortex of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) preconditioning on the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), inducible nitric synthase (iNOS) and glial fibrilliary acidic protein (GFAP) in the cortex of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (CI/R) rats so as to explore its underlying mechanism in the protection of ischemic cerebral tissue. METHODS: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into sham operation (sham), model, and EA preconditioning groups (n = 8 in each group). The CI/R model was induced by intraluminal middle cerebral artery occlusion .(MCAO) with a nylon monofilament suture. Before modeling, EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 3 V) was applied to "Baihui"(GV 20) and "Dazhui"(GV 14) for 30 min, once daily for 7 consecutive days. The neurologic impairment score was assessed by using Longa standards and the survival number of neurons in the local ischemic cerebral cortex was determined after Nissl staining, and the expression of nNOS, iNOS and GFAP in the cerebral cortex was detected using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological deficit score of the rats in the model group was significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the number of survival neurons of the ischemic cortex was obviously decreased (P < 0.01), and the expression levels of nNOS, iNOS and GFAP were significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). In the EA preconditioning group , the neurological deficit score, the expression levels of nNOS and iNOS were significantly down-regulated (P < 0.01), while the number of the survival neurons and GFAP expression level in the ischemic cerebral cortex were obviously higher in the EA preconditioning group in compared with the model group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: EA preconditioning can protect the ischemic cerebral cortex tissue from injury in CI/R rats, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating the expression of nNOS and iNOS, and up-regulating the expression of GFAP.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on hippocampal nNOS expression in rats of post-traumatic stress disorder model].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group and an electroacupuncture group. The single prolonged stress (SPS) method was used to set up the PTSD models in latter two groups. After SPS Stimulation, EA group was treated with 2Hz electroacupuncture at Baihui (GV 20) and Zusanli (ST 36) for 30 min, once a day for a week. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immuno-histochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression of nNOS in the hippocampus of rats in the each group. RESULTS: (1) The nNOS mRNA expression in hippocampus in model group was higher than that in normal group (P < 0.05). But the expression in EA group was lower significantly than that in model group (P < 0.05). (2) The nNOS protein expression in hippocampus CA1 and CA3 in model group was higher than that in normal group (P < 0.05). But after electroacupuncture treatment, its expression in EA group was lower significantly than that in model group (P < 0.05). The nNOS protein expression in hippocampal CA2 had no difference among all three groups. CONCLUSION: The elevated nNOS expression in hippocampus may be involved in the pathological process of PTSD. Electroacupuncture play a down-regulation effects in the hippocampal nNOS expression, which may be one mechanism of electroacupuncture for treatment of PTSD.

[Effects of electroacupuncture on the expressions of neuroal nitric oxide synthase and astrocyte in dentate gyrus of rats with Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in the expression of neuroal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in dentate gyrus (DG) of rats with Parkinson's disease (PD) and effects of electroacupuncture (EA). METHODS: On the 7th day of stereotactic injection with 6-hydroxydopamine into right medial forebrain bundle, apomorphine-induced rotation was carried out to select the PD rats. The selected 12 rats were randomly divided into a model group (n = 6) and an EA group (n = 6). Moreover a normal group was established (n = 6). Then, the rats in EA group were treated with EA at "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taichong" (LR 3), once a day for 21 days, and the other groups without any treatment. After EA treatment, the expressions of nNOS and GFAP in right DG were examined by immunohistochemistry method. RESULTS: The expression of nNOS in the right DG was weak in normal group, and the expression of nNOS in model group was significantly higher than that in normal group (P < 0.01), while in EA group, it was significantly lower than that in model (P < 0.01), with no difference between EA group and normal group (P > 0.05). The expression level of GFAP in model group was significantly higher than that in normal group (P < 0.01), while there was no difference in the number of GFAP positive cells between the above two groups (P > 0.05), and the number of GFAP positive cells in EA group was significantly increased compared with that in model group (P < 0.01), while with no significant difference in the expression level of GFAP between EA group and model group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can reverse the increase of nNOS expression and promote the activation of astrocyte in DG on the injured side in rats with PD.

[Effects of electroacupuncture intervention on behavior changes and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor and mineralocorticoid receptor expression levels in post-traumatic stress disorder rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on behavior reactions and hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) protein expression in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of PTSD. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, model and EA groups (10 rats/group). PTSD model was established by single prolonged stress. EA (2 Hz, 1 mA) stimulation was applied to "Baihui" (GV 20) and bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) acupoints for 30 min, once a day for a week. Morris water maze test was used to measure the ability of spatial learning and memory. GR and MR protein expression levels in the hippocampus tissee were examined with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the animals' escape latency and the expression level of hippocampal GR protein were increased significantly, and the expression level of hippocampal MR protein, as well the ratio of MR/GR expression were down-regulated considerably in the model group (P<0.05). In comparison with the model group, the animals' escape latency and the expression level of hippocampal GR protein were shortened pronouncedly, and the expression level of hippocampal MR protein, as well the ratio of MR/GR immunoactivity were up-regulated considerably (P<0. 05). CONCLUSION: EA of GV 20 and ST 36 can improve the learning-memory ability and regulate hippocampal MR and GR expression in PTSD rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving PTSD in clinical practice.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and glial fibrillary acidic protein in subventricular zone of Parkinson's disease rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of Parkinson's disease (PD) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of PD. METHODS: Eighteen SD rats were randomized into normal control, model and EA groups (6 rats/group). PD model was duplicated by microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine (2.5 microg/microL, 6 microL) containing 0.02% antiscorbic acid into the right medial forebrain bundle region (P: -4. 0, L: 0.8, H: 8.0). On the 7th day after modeling, EA (100 Hz) was applied to bilateral "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 30 min, once a day for 21 days. The expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), GFAP and PCNA in the right SVZ tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: TH expression was strong in the normal control group, but no TH expression was found in the model and EA groups. In comparison with the normal control group, the expression levels of PCNA and GFAP proteins and the number of PCNA-IR-positive cells in the right SVZ were decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.01); while compared with the model group, the expression levels of PCNA and GFAP proteins and the number of PCNA-IR-positive cells in the right SVZ were up-regulated considerably in the EA group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA can up-regulate the expression of PCNA and GFAP proteins in the SVZ in PD rats without changes of TH expression, which may contribute to its effect in improving clinical symptoms of PD.

Expression and localization of mesothelin in developing rat pancreas.

To define a genetic network that regulates development of the pancreas, we used high-density microarray (Affymetrix) to generate transcriptional profiles of rat pancreas from five biologically significant stages of development: embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5), E15.5, E18.5, postnatal day 0 (P0) and adult. Many genes were notably highly expressed in the later gestation when islet architecture and function are gradually forming. The expression and localization of mesothelin, one of these genes, was further examined. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed that mRNA and protein levels of mesothelin were high from later gestation to 2-3 weeks after birth, and with relatively low but detectable expression levels in adult rat pancreas. Immunolocalization indicated that mesothelin localized not only in islet beta-cells but also in the mesenchyme of developing rat pancreas. Transient mesothelin expression was concomitant with the development of islets architecture formation, remodeling and maturation. These findings indicate that mesothelin is dynamically expressed in the developing rat pancreas and that mesothelin might be involved in some developmental events during development of rat pancreas.

[Effect of different needle-retained time of electroacupuncture on expression of nitric oxide synthase in the septum of the rat].

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the relationship of different needle-retained time with therapeutic effects. METHODS: Forty experimental rats were evenly randomized into 5 groups, electroacupuncture (EA) at "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 5 min, 15 min, 30 min and 60 min groups, who received EA for 5, 15, 30 and 60 min respectively, and a control group who did not receive EA. Nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) method and computer image analysis system were used to detect the meangray of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) positive neurons in the septum. RESULTS: NOS positive neurons in the septum did not change as the EA for 5 min group compared with the control group (P > 0.05); the number of heavily staining NOS positive neurons increased significantly (P < 0.05) and the meangray of the NOS positive neurons significantly decreased (P < 0.01) in some septal subnuclei (lateral septum, and medial septum, vertical diagnonal band) after EA for 15, 30, 60 min as compared with the control group, and the numbers and the meangray of the NOS positive neurons in the septum were not significantly difference among the 3 EA groups. CONCLUSION: NOS expression in the septum increases and keeps a same level from EA for 15 min to 60 min.