[The effect of electro-acupuncture on endogenous EPCs and serum cytokines in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion rat]. Zhao Ying,Chen Sijia,Yu Wenjuan,Cai Saoxi,Zhang Li,Wang Xiuzhi,Tang Anke Sheng wu yi xue gong cheng xue za zhi = Journal of biomedical engineering = Shengwu yixue gongchengxue zazhi In this research project, rats were made into animal models of acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion (IR) by occlusion of their middle cerebral artery (MCAO). We observed the effect of endogenous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and serum cytokines on cerebral ischemia rats treated by electro-acupuncture(EA). The results showed: MCAO model had high stability after EA treatment which was delivered via the acupuncture needles inserted into "quchi" and "zusanli" points, the nervous functions of cerebral IR rats recovered faster than those of rats not treated; EPCs in rats' blood increased after acute focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion; and the growth rate was obvious in IR group. This phenomenon might be related to the inflammation elicited by injury of ischemia and self-repair. Besides, EA treatment could decrease induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, alleviate injury after cerebral ischemia, and regulate the quantity of EPCs in blood. The quantity of EPCs in blood increased in IR-24hr. In IR-48 hr, the rise of EPCs quantity was significant (P < 0.01). The level of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) in serum of rats after cerebral ischemia was escalated, which indicated to a certain extent that cerebral ischemia could stimulate stress reaction. EA treatment could raise VEGF level, which suggested that high expression of VEGF could accelerate mobilization, chemotaxis and homing of EPCs. At the same time, the levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) also changed. In conclusion, EA treatment could promote neovascularization after cerebral ischemia by mobilizing EPCs, decreasing iNOS activity and increasing VEGF level. This may be one of the ways by which EA could treat cerebral ischemia.

Protective effects of acupuncture and LGNHFD on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, and cluster of differentiation 34 in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. Journal of traditional Chinese medicine = Chung i tsa chih ying wen pan OBJECTIVE:To investigate the protective effects of electroacupuncture and LGNHFD on cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, and their effects on the expression of cluster of differentiation 34 (CD 34), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the peripheral tissue of the cerebral ischemic semi-dark zone in rats. The influence and mechanism of expression. METHODS:Healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the sham operation group, model group, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) group, electroacupuncture group, and acupuncture group. The cerebral ischemia model was prepared by middle artery occlusion. The electroacupuncture and TCM groups received electroacupuncture at the ""Neiguan (PC6)"", ""Baihui (GV20)"", and ""Renzhong (GV26)"" acupoints from 4 h after modeling, once daily for 14 d. After modeling, the acupuncture and TCM groups were administered LGNHFD once daily for 14 d. After treatment, the infarct volume and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) were measured in each group, the expression of CD34 in the surrounding ischemic penumbra was determined using immunohistochemistry, and the expression of angiogenesis-related factors in the ischemic hemisphere was detected by western blot. RESULTS:Compared with the sham operation group, rCBF was significantly decreased (P < 0.01) and cerebral infarction volume was significantly increased (P < 0.01) in the model group at four time points (5 min and 3, 7, and 14 d after modeling). At three postoperative time points (3, 7, and 14 d), the number of CD34+ cells in the model group were significantly increased (P < 0.01), and the relative expression levels of VEGF, bFGF, and CD34+ in the ischemic hemisphere were significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the rCBF of the acupuncture group was significantly increased at 3, 7, and 14 d after intervention (P < 0.01), while the rCBF of the electroacupuncture and TCM groups was significantly increased at 7 and 14 d after intervention (P < 0.01). After 3, 7, and 14 d of intervention, infarct volume was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), the number of CD34+ cells was significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05), and the relative expression levels of VEGF, bFGF, and CD34 in the ischemic hemisphere were significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the electroacupuncture and TCM groups, the rCBF of the acupuncture group was significantly increased (P < 0.01), the infarct volume was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), and the relative expression levels of VEGF, bFGF, and CD34 were significantly increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) after 3, 7, and 14 d of intervention. CONCLUSION:Acupuncture therapy is superior to simple drug and electroacupuncture therapy for reducing infarct volume, increasing rCBF and CD34 expression in cells, and promoting capillary regeneration in rats with cerebral ischemia. This may be related to the increased expression of VEGF, bFGF, and CD34 - which are related to cerebrovascular neovascularization - in the ischemic hemispheres of such rats. 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2021.03.015