Neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels through anti-inflammation in transient focal cerebral ischemia rats

The present study was designed, from the perspective of inflammatory reaction, to uncover the potential neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels in transient focal cerebral ischemia in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) rats. In total, 192 rats were randomly assigned to four groups, sham operation group (S), model group (M), Du vessel group (D), together with Ren and Du vessels group (RD), with 48 for each. Each group was further divided into six subgroups of 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 144 h after model establishing. We performed immunohistochemistry to detect dynamic expressions of pro-inflammatory mediatorsinterleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), interleukin-6 (IL-6), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in affected brain tissues. It showed the lowest levels of all these four indexes in sham group. Expressions of IL-1 beta, IL-6 and MMP-9 in the rest three groups peaked at 24 h, 24 h and 48 h after model establishing, respectively. Levels in the other two groups were lower by contrast with model group, and they were lower in RD group than those in D group (P<0.05). MCP-1 expressions in model group peaked at 48 h, while at 12 h in D group and RD group. They were remarkably lower in the other two groups in comparison to model group (P<0.05). At most time points, levels in RD group were lower than those in D group (P<0.05). Our findings demonstrated neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture on Ren and Du vessels on cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury.