Electroacupuncture-Induced Neuroprotection against Cerebral Ischemia in Rats : Role of the Dopamine D2 Receptor

Joint Authors

Li, Li-Hui
Ge, Lin-Bao
Li, Ming-Zhe
Liu, Cheng-Yong
Zhao, Dan
Li, Chang-Zhi
Xu, Ming-Shu
Chen, Chun-Yan
Xu, Jia
Zhang, Shu-Jing

Source

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Issue

Vol. 2013, Issue 2013 (31 Dec. 2013), pp.1-10, 10 p.

Publisher

Hindawi Publishing Corporation

Publication Date

2013-11-21

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

10

Main Subjects

Medicine

Abstract EN

Background.

Cerebral ischemia is known to produce brain damage and related behavioural deficits, including memory deficits and motor disorders.

Evidence shows that EA significantly promotes recovery of neurological function and thus improves quality of life.

Objective.

Evidence exists for the involvement of catecholamines in human neuroplasticity.

A better understanding of dopaminergic (DAergic) modulation in this process will be important.

Methods.

A total of 72 adult male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 6 groups: normal, model, EA, spiperone group, EA + spiperone group, and pergolide.

The middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was used in all 6 groups except the normal group.

A behavioural assessment was conducted at 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after MCAO.

The percent of brain infarct area was also determined 7 days after MCAO.

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) fluorescence double labeling was performed in the striatum.

Results.

In this study, we found that EA at Fengchi (GB20) acupoints resulted in marked improvements based on a behavioural assessment.

Both TTC staining and GAP-43 immunofluorescence labeling results showed that EA treatment reduced ischemia injury and promoted neuroplasticity compared with the model group.

The D2R-selective agonist, pergolide, showed similar results, but these results were reversed by the D2R-selective antagonist, spiperone.

We also found that there were more colocalization and expression of GAP-43 and TH in the EA and pergolide groups than those in the other groups.

Conclusion.

These results suggest that the neuroplasticity induced by EA was mediated by D2 autoreceptors in DAergic neurons.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Xu, Ming-Shu& Zhang, Shu-Jing& Zhao, Dan& Liu, Cheng-Yong& Li, Chang-Zhi& Chen, Chun-Yan…[et al.]. 2013. Electroacupuncture-Induced Neuroprotection against Cerebral Ischemia in Rats : Role of the Dopamine D2 Receptor. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine،Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-448682

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Xu, Ming-Shu…[et al.]. Electroacupuncture-Induced Neuroprotection against Cerebral Ischemia in Rats : Role of the Dopamine D2 Receptor. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine No. 2013 (2013), pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-448682

American Medical Association (AMA)

Xu, Ming-Shu& Zhang, Shu-Jing& Zhao, Dan& Liu, Cheng-Yong& Li, Chang-Zhi& Chen, Chun-Yan…[et al.]. Electroacupuncture-Induced Neuroprotection against Cerebral Ischemia in Rats : Role of the Dopamine D2 Receptor. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013. Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-10.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-448682

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references

Record ID

BIM-448682