Effect of Santong Electroacupuncture on Expression of p75 Neurotrophin Receptor in Rats with Spinal Cord Injury / 中国康复理论与实践

ABSTRACT

@#Objective To investigate the effect of Santong electroacupuncture (EA) on mRNA and protein expression of p75 neurotroph-in receptor (p75NTR) in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods A total of 72 female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham operation group (group A, n=8) and model group (n=64). In the model group, Allen's method was used to make SCI rats model, in which 48 survived model rats were further subdivided into model control group (group B, n=12), EA group (group C, n=12), inhibitor Nogo extra cellular peptide residues 1-40 (NEP1-40) group (group D, n=12) and EA+inhibitor NEP1-40 group (group E, n=12) according to de-sign proposal. The treatment groups were electroacupunctured on Dazhui (GV14) and Yaoyangguan (GV3), bilateral Ciliao (BL32) and Zu-sanli (ST36) with loose-tight wave, for 20 minutes every day. After 7 and 14 days of treatment, injured spinal cord tissue was extracted for detecting. The mRNA and protein expression of p75NTR was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR, in situ hybridization and Western blotting respectively. The hind limb motor function was assessed with Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score. Results The BBB score increased in the treatment groups compared with group B, and was higher in group E than in groups C and D (P<0.05), as well as on the 14th day than on the 7th day in all the treatment groups (t>2.623, P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of p75NTR in spinal cord tissues decreased in the treatment groups compared with group B (P<0.05), and no significant difference was found among the treatment groups (P>0.05). Conclusion Santong elerctroacupuncture treatment could improve the hind limb motor function, which may associate with inhibition of the mRNA and protein expression of p75NTR in rats after SCI.