Effects of point massage on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA, ultrasonic microbubble imaging and hemorheology after skeletal muscle contusion

Abstract

Objective To understand the effects of point massage on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression after skeletal muscle contusion,and also its effects on ultrasonic microbubble imaging and hemorheology.Methods Forty-two New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into a normal group (n=6),a self-repairing group (n =18) and a massage group (n =18).Rabbits in the self-repairing and massage groups were hit to generate acute contusion of the quadriceps femoris.Beginning on the same day,the rabbits in the massage group were treated by massage at the Yanglingquan acupoint (GB34) for 15 minutes once daily.Ultrasonic microbubble imaging was used to examine any pathologic changes in the rabbits' muscles at 2 hours and then 3,7 and 10 days after the insult.A reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect VEGF mRNA expression in the rabbits' muscle tissues at days 3,7 and 10.An automatic hemorheology analyzer was employed to detect any changes of in the viscosity of the blood and plasma.Results At days 3,7 and 10,VEGF mRNA expression in the rabbits in the self-repairing group was 35％,44％ and 18％ higher than in the normal group respectively.Average VEGF mRNA expression in the massage group was 94％,86％ and 94％ higher than in the normal group at the same time points.Ultrasonic microbubble imaging suggested that in the massage group local tissue injury repaired much better than in the self-repairing group.The hemorheology observations suggested that point massage could regulate the hemorheology of the rabbits' entire body and hasten the damage recovery process.Conclusion Point massage at the Yanglingquan point (GB34) can hasten the recovery of skeletal muscle contusions by improving local blood supply and whole body hemorheology,at least in rabbits. Key words: Point massage; Contusion; Skeletal muscles; Ultrasonic microbubble imaging; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Hemorheology