Objective: To observe the influence of scalp-acupuncture on the expression of pentraxin 3 (PTX3), Interleukin (IL)-1β, zonula occludens-1(ZO-1) mRNA and Occludin mRNA in striatum in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease (AICD) rats, so as to investigate its mechanisms underlying improvement of AICD.
Methods: Forty-eight male SD rats were randomly allocated to control, model, IL-1Ra and IL-1Ra+scalp-acupuncture groups (n=12 rats in each group). The AICD model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). Rats of the IL-1Ra group and IL-1Ra+scalp-acupuncture group received intraperitoneal injection of IL-1Ra (0.05 mg·kg-1·d-1), once daily for 6 days. Scalp acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral "Dingnieqianxiexian" (MS6) once daily for 6 days for rats in IL-1Ra+scalp-acupuncture group. Before and after intervention, the neurologic deficit score (NDS) was evalua-ted according to Longa's method. The expression of striatum PTX3 and IL-1β was detected by immunohistochemistry, and ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA in the striatum tissue were detected by fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR. The Evans Blue (EB) tracer method was used to monitor the degree of blood-brain barrier (BBB) damage.
Results: Following modeling, the NDS, EB content and the expression of PTX3 and IL-1β in the striatum tissue were significantly increased, and the ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression was considerably decreased in the model group compared with the control group (P<0.05). After the interventions and compared with the model group, the NDS, EB content in both IL-1Ra and IL-1Ra+scalp acupuncture groups, and PTX3 in the IL-1Ra group were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05), while the striatum ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression in both IL-1Ra and IL-1Ra+scalp acupuncture groups, and PTX3 in the IL-1Ra+scalp acupuncture group were obviously up-regulated (P<0.05), and the expression of IL-1β was obviously down-regulated in the IL-1Ra+scalp acupuncture group (P<0.05) rather than in the IL-1Ra group (P>0.05). The effects of scalp acupuncture combined with IL-1Ra were obviously superior to that of IL-1Ra in down-regulating NDS, EB content and IL-1β expression level, and in up-regulating PTX3, ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression levels (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Scalp acupuncture can improve neurological function and reduce the degree of BBB injury in AICD rats, which may be associated with its function in up-regulating the expression of PTX3 and in promoting the expression of ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA.
Keywords: Acute ischemic stroke; Interleukin-1Ra; Interleukin-1β; Occludin; Pentraxin 3; Scalp acupuncture; Zonula occludens-1.