Effects of electroacupuncture on expression of angiogenic growth factors and antiangiogenic growth factors in the brain tissue of the rat after focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in improving ischemic stroke.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A Wistar rat model of focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion was made by filament occlusion. The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, an EA group. EA was given at bilateral "Hegu" (LI 4) in the EA group. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was detected with in situ hybridization and expression of angiogenin-1 (Ang-1) and endostatin proteins with immunohistochemical method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of angiogenic growth factors including VEGF and Ang-1 in the EA group were significantly increased, while the expressions of endostatin was significantly decreased as compared with those in the model group (both P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EA improving ischemic stroke is carried out possibly through up-regulating the expression of angiogenic growth factors and down-regulating the expression of antiangiogenic growth factors.</p>