Effect of acupuncture on inflammatory cytokines expression of spastic cerebral palsy rats

OBJECTIVE@#To To investigate the effect of acupuncture on the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS) content and muscular tension of spasticity cerebral palsy rat model.@*METHODS@#The rats with spastic cerebral palsy were randomly divided into the control group, model group and acupuncture group. After successful modeling, the muscular tension and the content of TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, NOS were measured.@*RESULTS@#The serum TNF-α, IL-6, CRP, NOS content were significantly decreased in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The low and high shear viscosity of whole blood of the acupuncture group were significantly lower than the control group and the model group (P<0.05). The erythrocyte electrophoresis indexes in the acupuncture group were significantly lower than that in the model group and the control group (P<0.05). Acupuncture significantly reduced the muscular tension of spastic cerebral palsy rat and increased the active extent in the paralytic extremity (P<0.05), but it could not be restored to normal level. Compared with the control group, the difference had significant (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Acupuncture treatment can inhibit the release of inflammatory cells after brain injury, then reduce immune injury, relieve muscle spasms and reduce muscular tension.

Changes in learning and memory functions in rats with status epilepticus and generalized nonconvulsive status epilepticus / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the changes in the learning and memory functions and the hippocampal expression of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) in rats with status epilepticus and generalized nonconvulsive status epilepticus.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Status epilepticus (SE) and generalized nonconvulsive status epilepticus (GNCSE) was induced by pentylenetetrazol kindling in SD rats, and the learning and memory function changes of the kindled rats were assessed by means of Morris water-maze test and Y-maze test with alternative electric stimulation. Immunocytochemistry was used for analysis pCREB protein expression in the hippocampus of the rats.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In Morris water-maze test, the rats with SE showed prolonged mean escape latency (P<0.05), shortened swimming time in the platform quadrant (P<0.05), and reduced number of times of platform crossing (P<0.05) in the short term after kindling. But these changes were reversed and became normal a month after the kindling (P>0.05). In the Y-maze test with alternative electric stimulation, the total error (TE) of SE rats increased significantly in the short term after epilepsy (P<0.05), but recovered the normal level a month after kindling (P>0.05). The GNCSE rats showed prolonged mean escape latency at only certain time periods (P<0.05) in the short term, but with swimming time in the platform quadrant and number of platform crossings similar to the control group (P>0.05). The short-term TE of GNCSE rats increased significantly (P<0.05), but in the long term, TE was similar to that in the control group (P>0.05). The expression of pCREB decreased significantly in SE group in comparison with the control group in the short term.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Epileptic seizures can lead to learning and memory function impairment in rats, and SE seems to cause greater impact than GNCSE on the learning and memory functions. pCREB might be involved in the pathophysiology of learning and memory deficit in epileptic rats.</p>

Change of hippocampal NMDA receptor and emotional behavior and spatial learning and memory in status epilepticus rat model / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>SD rats were utilized for the purpose of the exploration of effects of status epilepticus (SE) on their emotional behavior, spatial learning and memory, and explorating its molecular mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty maturity male SD rats, weighing (200 +/- 20) g were divided randomly and equally into SE group (SG) and normal control group (NG). The SG rats were induced by Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and the control animals received a saline (0.9%) solution. The change of emotional behavior in two groups were tested in elevated plus maze. Furthermore, Morris water maze was applied to evaluate the effects by SE on spatial learning and memory in rats. At the same time, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR1 subunit mRNA in the hippocampus was determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In elevated plus test, SE rats increased the times of visits as well as the time spent on the open arms of the elevated plus maze (P < 0.01). In Morris water maze, the mean escape latency for the SE rats looking for hidden platform in the place navigation test prolonged (P < 0.01). The efficiency of their search strategy was poor (P < 0.05). The swimming time in platform region and the percentage of their swimming time decreased (P < 0.01). The number of times they crossed the platform area decreased (P < 0.01). Meanwhile the expression of NR1 subunit mRNA in hippocampus was lower (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The experimental results showed that SE could result in the change of emotional behavior and damage of spatial learning and memory in rats. NR1 might be involved in the patho- and physiological process in causing these behavioral changes.</p>