针刺对脑缺血大鼠海马区凋亡细胞及Caspase-9蛋白表达的影响

目的观察针刺对脑缺血损伤大鼠大脑海马区凋亡细胞及Caspase-9蛋白表达的影响，探讨针刺对脑缺血损伤的神经保护机制。方法雄性SD大鼠，随机分为正常对照组、脑缺血模型组、脑缺血治疗组，每组10只，采用化学刺激诱导血栓性闭塞大脑中动脉造成大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型。针刺“百会”、“水沟”，每日1次，治疗7d。应用苏木素-伊红染色（HE）及免疫组化方法观察针刺前后大鼠缺血区凋亡细胞及海马区Caspase-9蛋白表达的变化。结果大鼠局灶性脑缺血后Caspase-9表达增加，针刺对脑缺血损伤大鼠Caspase-9的过度表达有明显抑制作用。HE染色显示，缺血灶内大量神经元变性坏死，出现脑水肿表现，针剌治疗后变性坏死细胞明显减少。结论针刺可减轻Caspase-9的过度表达，改善脑缺血状态，从而减轻脑损害程度，这可能是针刺减轻脑缺血损伤的机制之一。

Effect of Acupuncture on Apoptosis and Protein Caspase-9 Expression in Hippocampus of Cerebral Ischemia Rats

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture on apoptosis and Caspase-9 expression in hippocampus of cerebral ischemia （CI） rats. Methods Thirty male SD rats were randomized into control, CI and CI ＋ acupuncture group, with 10 cases in each group. CI model was established by occlusion of the unilateral middle cerebral artery. ＂Baihui＂ （GV20） and ＂Shuigou＂ （GV26） were acupunctured once daily for 7 days. The apoptosis and expression of protein Caspase-9 in hippocampus was displayed by HE staining and immunohistochemical method. Results In comparison with the normal control group, Caspase-9 immune reaction （IR） positive cells in the hippocampus of CI group increased significantly （P〈 0.01）. Caspase-9 IR positive cells in the hippocampus of CI ＋ acupuncture group decreased significantly （P〈0.01）. HE staining showed that there was a lot of neuron degenerateion and necrosis in the ischemia focus, and the manifestations of cerebral edema were observed. Degeneration and necrosis of cells was significantly decreased after acupuncture. Conclusion Acupuncture can eliminate cerebral ischemia induced abnormal expression of Caspase-9 and alleviate cerebral lesion in cerebral ischemia rats. These may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture lightening the cerebral ischemia.