Effect of electric acupuncture on Nogo-A mRNA expression in the cortex, medulla oblongata and cervical cord areas of middle cerebral artery occlusion rats

Abstract

Objective To observe the effect of electric acupuncture on Nogo-A mRNA expression in the cortex,medulla oblongata and cervical cord areas of models of stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rats (RHRSP) after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) at different time points,and investigate the possible mechanisms of electric acupuncture in diaphragma damage in ischemic stroke.Methods Male SD rats were divided into hypertension group,sham-operated group,model group,electric acupuncture group and sham electric acupuncture group by random number table method (n=60).Rats of hypertension group were the pure RHRSP models; rats of sham-operated group only received surgical trauma; rats of model group received no treatment based RHRSP and MCAO; Baihui and Dazhui acupoints were electroacupuncted in rats of electric acupuncture group for 28 days,once a day; in sham electric acupuncture group,acupuncture needles were sticked on the skin of rats where Baihui and Dazhui locate.One,7,14,28 days after treatment,the right side of the cortex,medulla oblongata and the left side of the cervical cord were separated in a certain number of each group rats.RT-PCR was employed to detect the Nogo-A mRNA expression.Results (1) Cortex area:on the 7th,14th,28th days,model group,electric acupuncture group and sham electric acupuncture group had higher Nogo-A mRNA expression than hypertension group with statistically significant difference (P＜ 0.05); as compared with the model group,electric acupuncture group had statistically lower Nogo-A mRNA expression on the 7th,14th,28th days (P＜0.05).(2) Medulla oblongata area:on the 14th and 28th days,model group,electric acupuncture group and sham electric acupuncture group had higher Nogo-A mRNA expression than hypertension group with statistically significant difference (P＜0.05); as compared with the model group,electric acupuncture group had statistically lower Nogo-A mRNA expression on the 14th and 28th days (P＜0.05).(3) Cervical cord area:on the 28th day,model group,electric acupuncture group and sham electric acupuncture group had higher Nogo-A mRNA expression than hypertension group with statistically significant difference (P＜0.05); as compared with model group,electric acupuncture group had statistically lower Nogo-A mRNA expression on the 28th day (P＜0.05).Conclusions The increase ofNogo-A rnRNA expression in the cerebral cortex,medulla oblongata and cervicall cord may be an important factor which involves in acute cerebral ischemic diaphragma damage.Electric acupuncture's protection to central nervous of cerebral ischemic RHRSP may closely relate to decreasing Nogo-A mRNA expression. Key words: Cerebral infarction; Hypertension; Nogo-A; Electric acupuncture; Cortex; Medulla oblongata; Cervical cord