电针夹脊穴对兔退变腰椎间盘Actin、Tubulin表达的影响

目的:观察电针夹脊穴对兔腰退变椎间盘肌动蛋白(actin)、微管结合蛋白(tubulin)表达的影响,探讨电针夹脊穴防治腰椎间盘退变的作用机制。方法:40只新西兰大白兔分为正常组、模型组、假模型组、电针组4组,每组各10只。模型组采用轴向加压法建立腰椎间盘退变模型,电针组给予L_4、L_5双侧夹脊穴电针治疗28d。各组于术后第28天和56天取出椎间盘组织,通过Western blot检测不同时间点椎间盘细胞中actin、tubulin的表达。结果:模型组术后第28天、第56天及电针组术后第28天actin、tubulin表达与正常组及假模型组术后第28天、第56天相比均有明显下降(均P0.05);电针组经电针治疗56d后actin、tubulin表达与该组术后第28天及模型组术后第56天相比均有明显升高(均P0.05)。结论:电针夹脊穴可通过上调模型兔退变腰椎间盘细胞中actin、tubulin的表达,促进退变腰椎间盘细胞骨架恢复,从而起到延缓椎间盘退变的作用。

Effects of Electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B2) on the expression of actin and tubulin in the rabbit degenerated intervertebral disc

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at jiaji (EX-B2) on the expression of actin and tubulin in rabbit degenerated intervertebral disc so as to explore its mechanism in relieving intervertebral disc degeneration. Methods: A total of 40 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal, model, sham operation and EA groups, 10 rabbits in each group. In the model group, the lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration was established by an axial compression device. The EA group was treated with EA at bilateral jiaji (EX-B2) for 28 days. The expression levels of actin and tubulin in the lumbar intervertebral discs (L4-L5) were assayed by Western blotting at the 28th and 56th day after operation. Results: The expression levels of actin and tubulin on the postoperative day (POD) 28 and 56 in the model group and on the POD 28 in the EA group were significantly declined as compared with the normal group and sham operation group on the POD 28 and 56 (P<0.05). The expression levels of actin and tubulin on the POD 56 in the EA group were significantly increased as compared with those on the POD 28 in the EA group and the model group on the POD 56 (P<0.05). Conclusions: Electroacupuncture at jiaji (EX-B2) could increase the expression levels of actin and tubulin in the rabbit degenerated intervertebral discs and delay the intervertebral disc degeneration by promoting the restoration of the cytoskeleton in the degenerated intervertebral discs.