ABSTRACT
Objective: By observing the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the apoptosis of conjunctival cells of rabbits with dry eye syndrome (DES) and the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3, Fas and Bcl-2, to discuss the mechanism of EA in the treatment of DES from the perspective of cell apoptosis. Methods: Male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group (NG), a model group (MG), an EA group (EAG) and a sham EA group (SEAG). DES rabbit model was developed by eye drop of 0.1％ benzalkonium chloride. The rabbit tear secretion and tear film break-up time (BUT) were measured; terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to detect the apoptosis of conjunctival cells; the expressions of Caspase-3, Fas and Bcl-2 proteins in conjunctival cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results: Compared with the NG, the rabbit tear secretion decreased and the BUT was shortened in the MG (both P<0.01); compared with the MG and the SEAG, the rabbit tear secretion increased and the BUT was prolonged in the EAG (all P<0.05). Compared with the NG, the apoptosis of rabbit conjunctival cells increased (P<0.01), the expressions of Caspase-3 and Fas proteins increased (both P<0.05), and the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased (P<0.01) in the MG; compared with the MG and the SEAG, the apoptosis of rabbit conjunctival cells decreased (both P<0.01), the expressions of Caspase-3 and Fas proteins decreased (all P<0.05), and the expression of Bcl-2 protein increased (both P<0.01) in the EAG. Conclusion: EA can inhibit the apoptosis of rabbit conjunctival cells, down-regulate the expressions of apoptosis-related proteins Caspase-3 and Fas, and up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2 protein, which may be one of the mechanisms of EA in treatment of DES.