Influence of Brain-activating Acupuncture on Cerebral Histomorphology in Rats with Focal Cerebral Ischemia and Reperfusion / 针灸推拿医学（英文版）

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the pathological changes following the focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats and the effect of acupuncture on them. Methods: A model of ischemia and reperfusion was established by thread occlusion, and the brain-activating acupuncture was applied, and then the morphological changes of the cerebral cortex on the ischemic side were observed under electron and light microscopes. Results:Cerebral ischemia and reperfusion could lead to the structural injury of neurons, gliacytes and capillary vessels in rat's brain, and acupuncture could improve the ultra-structural injury in the area around the cerebral ischemia. It was also found that acupuncture intervention at 3 hours following reperfusion was more ideal than that at any other time points. Conclusion: Acupuncture has a protective effect on the ultra-structural injury of neurons associated with focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in rats, and acupuncture given within 3 hours following reperfusion can produce a satisfactory effect.