Institution: | 1. Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China;2. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China;3. Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shanxi 712046, China |
Abstract: | ObjectiveThe aim of this study is identify the intervention mechanism of the effects of electro-acupuncture on the expression of Ang/Tie-2 mRNA and protein in rats with acute cerebral infarction induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).MethodsAltogether 120 Wistar rats were subjected to MCAO by inserting a nylon filament, and then divided into 3 groups: control group, injured group and electro-acupuncture group. The injured and electro-acupuncture groups were further divided into the following 7 subgroups according to the time after MCAO: 3, 6, 12, 24 h, 3, 7 and 12 day, with 8 rats in each subgroup. The electro-acupuncture group was given electro-acupuncture treatment at Shuigou (GV 26) instantly after operation. The rats were killed at different time points according to their groups, and then the expression levels of Ang/Tie-2 mRNA and protein were detected using Real-Time PCR and immunohistochemical staining.ResultsThe mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang/Tie-2 in the electro-acupuncture group were significant higher than that in the injured group.ConclusionThe results suggested that electro-acupuncture could significantly regulate the expression of Ang/Tie-2 mRNA and protein in the rats with acute cerebral infarction induced by MCAO, and enhance angiogenesis after ischemic penumbra. |