ABSTRACT
Moxibustion, traditional Chinese medicine treatment, involves the warming of specific acupuncture points of the body using ignited herbal materials. Evidence suggests beneficial effects of moxibustion in several brain diseases including epilepsy, however, whether moxibustion pretreatment impacts on seizures and what are the underlying mechanisms remains to be established. Evidence has suggested the purinergic ATP-gated P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) to be involved in the actions of moxibustion. Moreover, P2X7R signalling is now well established to contribute to long-lasting brain hyperexcitability underlying epilepsy development. Whether P2X7R signalling is involved in the seizure-reducing actions of moxibustion has not been investigated to date. For our studies we used C57BL/6 male mice that received moxibustion pre-treatments at the acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Dazhui (GV14) once daily for either 7, 14, or 21 days. This was followed by an intraperitoneal injection of kainic acid (KA, 30 mg/kg) to induce status epilepticus. Behavioral changes during KA-induced status epilepticus were analyzed according to the Racine scale. Changes in electrographic seizures were analyzed via cortical implanted electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes. While no effect on seizure severity was observed following 7 days of moxibustion pre-treatment, moxibustion pre-treatment at both ST36 and GV14 for 14 or 21 days significantly reduced KA-induced behavior seizures at a similar rate. Cortical EEG recordings showed that 14 days of moxibustion pre-treatments also reduced electrographic seizures, confirming the anticonvulsant actions of moxibustion pre-treatment. To determine whether moxibustion impacts the pro-convulsant actions of P2X7R signaling, mice were treated with the P2X7R agonist BzATP or P2X7R antagonist A438079. While treatment with the P2X7R agonist BzATP exacerbated seizure severity, treatment with the P2X7R antagonist reduced seizure severity. We further found that moxibustion pre-treatment attenuated epileptic seizures by counteracting the effects of BzATP. These results suggest that moxibustion pre-treatment at the acupoints ST36 and GV14 for 14 days has anti-epileptic effects, which may counteract the proconvulsant functions of the P2X7R.
ABSTRACT
As an invasive nuclear medical imaging technology, positron emission tomography (PET) possess the possibility to imaging the distribution as well as the density of selective receptors via specific PET tracers. Inspired by PET, the development of radio-chemistry has greatly promoted the progress of innovative imaging PET tracers for adenosine receptors, in particular adenosine A2A receptors (A2ARs). PET imaging of A2A receptors play import roles in the research of adenosine related disorders. Several radio-tracers for A2A receptors imaging have been evaluated in human studies. This paper reviews the recent research progress of PET tracers for A2A receptors imaging, and their applications in the diagnosis and treatment of related disease, such as cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, neurodegenerative and psychiatric disease. The future development of A2A PET tracers were also discussed.
ABSTRACT
Baihui (DU20)-penetrating-Qubin (GB7) acupuncture can inhibit inflammatory reactions and activate signaling pathways related to proliferation after intracerebral hemorrhage. However, there is no research showing the relationship between this treatment and cell apoptosis. Rat models of intracerebral hemorrhage were established by injecting 60 µL of autologous blood into the right side of the caudate-putamen. Six hours later, the needle traveled subcutaneously from the Baihui acupoint to Qubin acupoint. The needle was alternately rotated (180 ± 10 turns/min) manually along clockwise and counter-clockwise directions. Stimulation lasted for 7 days, and was performed three times each for 6 minutes with 6-minute intervals between stimulations. Rats intraperitoneally receiving Sonic hedgehog pathway activator, purmorphamine (1 mg/kg per day), served as positive controls. Motor and sensory function were assessed using the Ludmila Belayev test. Extent of pathological changes were measured in the perihemorrhagic penumbra using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Apoptosis was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay. Expression of smoothened (Smo) and glioma-associated homolog 1 (Gli1) was determined by western blot assay. Our results showed that Baihui-penetrating-Qubin acupuncture promoted recovery of motor and sensory function, reduced the apoptotic cell percentage in the perihemorrhagic penumbra, and up-regulated Smo and Gli1 expression. We conclude that Baihui-penetrating-Qubin acupuncture can mitigate hemorrhage and promote functional recovery of the brain in a rat model of intracerebral hemorrhage, possibly by activating the Sonic hedgehog pathway.