Li-Li-Qiang Ding1, Song-Feng Hu2, Xing-Wei He2, Peng Zhang3, Fen-Fen Zhao4, Ting-Ping Liu4, Qin Zhang4, Fan He4, Ying Yu5, Peng Xiong2, Chang-Kang Wang2. 1. Department of Hypertension, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hypertension, Shanghai Institute of Hypertension, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China. 2. Fourth Department of Acupuncture, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China. 3. Department of Acupuncture, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China. 4. Graduate School, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China. 5. Department of Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
Abstract
Objective: Acupuncture combined with moxibustion (AM) therapy has been applied to treat spinal cord injury (SCI), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The present study aimed to confirm the effect and mechanism of AM treatment on the recovery of SCI.Design: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the SCI model by impact method. SCI rat models were subjected to AM treatment at Dazhui (GV14) and Jiaji points (T7-T12), Yaoyangguan (GV3), Zusanli (ST36) and Ciliao (BL32).Outcome measures: Motor function and cell apoptosis in rats after SCI. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Shh and Gli-1 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: After AM treatment, the hindlimb motor function of SCI rats was significantly increased than the SCI group at 7, 9, 11, 14 days (P < 0.05). AM treatment 7 d and 14 d significantly preserved the nissl-stained positive neurons and significantly decreased number of apoptotic cells, compared to that of SCI 7 and 14 d groups (P < 0.05). AM treatment improved the mRNA protein levels of Shh and Gli-1 after 7 and 14 days treatment compared to the SCI group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: AM could improve the expression of Shh and Gli-1 in injured spinal cord of rats. That could be part of underlying mechanisms of AM treatment including recover motor function and preserve the neuron cells and alleviate the apoptosis of nerve cells in rats after SCI.
Objective: Acupuncture combined with moxibustion (AM) therapy has been applied to treat spinal cord injury (SCI), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. The present study aimed to confirm the effect and mechanism of AM treatment on the recovery of SCI.Design: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were used to establish the SCI model by impact method. SCI rat models were subjected to AM treatment at Dazhui (GV14) and Jiaji points (T7-T12), Yaoyangguan (GV3), Zusanli (ST36) and Ciliao (BL32).Outcome measures: Motor function and cell apoptosis in rats after SCI. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Shh and Gli-1 were determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results: After AM treatment, the hindlimb motor function of SCI rats was significantly increased than the SCI group at 7, 9, 11, 14 days (P < 0.05). AM treatment 7 d and 14 d significantly preserved the nissl-stained positive neurons and significantly decreased number of apoptotic cells, compared to that of SCI 7 and 14 d groups (P < 0.05). AM treatment improved the mRNA protein levels of Shh and Gli-1 after 7 and 14 days treatment compared to the SCI group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: AM could improve the expression of Shh and Gli-1 in injured spinal cord of rats. That could be part of underlying mechanisms of AM treatment including recover motor function and preserve the neuron cells and alleviate the apoptosis of nerve cells in rats after SCI.
Authors: Nduka M Amankulor; Dolores Hambardzumyan; Stephanie M Pyonteck; Oren J Becher; Johanna A Joyce; Eric C Holland Journal: J Neurosci Date: 2009-08-19 Impact factor: 6.167
Authors: Sunil S Karhadkar; G Steven Bova; Nadia Abdallah; Surajit Dhara; Dale Gardner; Anirban Maitra; John T Isaacs; David M Berman; Philip A Beachy Journal: Nature Date: 2004-09-12 Impact factor: 49.962