Abstract
In an effort to explore new, noninvasive treatment options for spinal cord injuries (SCI), this study investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) for SCI rat models. SCI was induced by a modified Allen's weight-drop method. We investigated the response of EA at Dazhui (GV 14) and Mingmen (GV 4) acupoints to understand the effects and mechanisms of EA in neuroprotection and neuronal function recovery after SCI. BBB testing was used to detect motor function of rats' hind limbs among groups, and EA was shown to promote the recovery of SCI rats' motor function. Nissl staining showed a restored neural morphology and an increase in the quantity of neurons after EA. Also, the antiapoptosis role was exposed by TUNEL staining. Western blotting analysis was used to determine the protein expression of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in spinal cord tissue. Compared to the sham group, the expression levels of NT-3 were significantly decreased and EA was shown to upregulate the expression of NT-3. The present study suggests that the role of EA in neuroprotection and dorsal neuronal function recovery after SCI in rats, especially EA stimulation at GV 14 and GV 4, can greatly promote neuronal function recovery, which may result from upregulating the expression of NT-3.
Highlights
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an accidental tragedy, causing unexpected suffering physically and emotionally, and is costly to patients [1]
At 7 d after SCI, the BBB scores began to show significant statistical difference between EA group and the control group, which indicated that the hind limbs’ motor function of rats was gradually recovering, and the recovery of rats that received EA treatment was better than that of control rats without EA treatment. This signifies that EA treatment could promote motor function recovery after SCI, which was shown by Nissl staining, transferase mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), and Western blotting
Unlike neurons of the peripheral nervous system (PNS), those of the central nervous system (CNS) do not spontaneously regenerate their axons following injury; trauma to the brain or spinal cord frequently results in permanent neurological deficits [27]
Summary
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is an accidental tragedy, causing unexpected suffering physically and emotionally, and is costly to patients [1]. Traumatic SCI can cause disorders of somatesthesia and locomotion below the level of injury. SCI induces primary mechanical damage and causes secondary damage to the spinal cord. Primary damage occurs by mechanical tissue disruption immediately subsequent to trauma. Secondary damage is mediated by complex cellular and molecular processes [2]. Mainstream treatments for SCI include pharmacotherapies, neurotrophic factors, cell-transplantation, gene therapy, and biological materials transplantation [3, 4]. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments were reported and used [3, 4].
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