Effects of Electroacupuncture on the Expression of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Cell Structure in the Gliavascular Net of Cerebral Ischemic Tissues in Hypertensive Rats

Abstract

Introduction: This study aims to explore the effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of GFAP and VEGF and cell structure in the glia vascular net of cerebral ischemic tissues in hypertensive rats. Material and Methods: Stroke-prone renovascular hypertensive rat (RHRSP) models and middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) were established. After two hours of ischemia and at 1, 7, 14 and 28 days after reperfusion, the expression of GFAP and VEGF in rat cerebral ischemic tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and light microscopy. Results: Positive GFAP cells were found in the semidarkness area after two hours of ischemic and one day of reperfusion in the control group, and these increased after 14 days, decreased after 14 days, and significantly decreased after 28 days, when compared to the sham group (P < 0.01). Compared to the control group, GFAP-positive cells significantly increased after 7, 14 and 28 days of ischemic and reperfusion in the electric acupuncture group. Then, this significantly increased and reached the maximum after seven days of reperfusion, but decreased after 14 days. Contrarily, this significantly decreased after 30 day, but remained higher than that in sham-operated group (P < 0.05). Compared to the control group, the number of positive VEGF cells increased after 7, 14 and 28 days of ischemic and reperfusion in the electric acupuncture group (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Electric acupuncture can promote neurofunctional recovery in the cerebral ischemic area. The mechanism may be correlated with the regulation of the expression of GFAP and VEGF, and the rebuilding of the gliavascular net of cerebral ischemic tissues, thereby decreasing cerebral ischemic damage.