Pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture potentiates the expression of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in rat brains

The expression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 is known to confer protective effects on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury.The current study investigated the expression levels of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in response to multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at acupoints Zusanli(ST36)and Fengchi(GB20) stimulation.Rats were divided into five groups:uninjured,control,non-acupoint,GB20 and ST36. Rats in the non-acupoint,GB20 and ST36 groups received 30 minutes(3 times or 18 times)of electro-acupuncture stimulation before experimental cerebral ischemia was induced.Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were found to be significantly increased in the ST36 groups with either 3 or 18 electro-acupuncture treatments(P<0.05).The production was higher with 18 electro-acupuncture treatments in the ST36 groups(P<0.05).In the GB20 groups,significant increase was only observed in transforming growth factor-beta 1 with 18 electro-acupuncture treatments(P<0.05).No significant elevation of the level of transforming growth factor-beta 1 was observed in the non-acupoint groups.However,the production of Bcl-2 increased with 18 treatments in the non-acupoint groups(P<0.05).The data suggest that multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at ST36 was effective in conferring neuroprotective effect on the brain by means of upregulation of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 and the effect was increase with the number of treatment.