Effect of electroacupuncture on reactive astrogliosis of rats with spinal cord injury

Abstract

Objective To study effect of electroacupunture on reactive astrogliosis of rats after spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divided into the sham group, model group and electroacupuncture group, 12 rats in each group. The sham group only underwent laminectomy without spinal cord injury, and the impactor was used to establish spinal cord injury model in model group and electroacupuncture group. The electroacupuncture group was given electroacupuncture after operation, while the rest groups were given the same condition of grabing. The Basso Beattie Bresnahan (BBB) scores of rats were recorded daily after operation and rats were sacrificed on the 14th day after administration. Nissl staining was used to observe the morphology of neurons. The expression of GFAP was detected by immunofluorescence. The expression of GFAP protein was detected by Western blot. Results The fifth days after the intervention, the BBB score of the electroacupuncture group was significantly higher than that of the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of GFAP in electroacupuncture group significantly decreased (F=23.831, P<0.001), the expression of GFAP protein in electroacupuncture group significantly decreased (F=15.883, P<0.001), the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α in electroacupuncture group significantly decreased (F=82.773, 113.487, P<0.001). Conclusions The electroacupuncture can inhibit the expression GFAP and astrogliosis to inhibit inflamation after spinal cord injury in rats, which is conducive to the repair of neurons and the recovery of limb motor function in rats. Key words: Spinal cord injuries; Electroacupuncture; Glial fibrillary acid protein; Reactive astrogliosis; Inflammation; Rats