[Effect of Electroacupuncture on Expression of Cortical srGAP 1 and Cdc 42 in Rats with Focal Cerebral Infarction].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on the neurological function and the expression change of Slit-Robo GTPase-activating protein-1 (srGAP 1) and cell division-cycle 42 (Cdc 42) in the cortex of rats with cerebral ischemic injury (CIRI) , so as to explore the mechanism of EA in the management of cerebral infarction.

METHODS:

A total of 48 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly and equally divided into control, model, non-acupoint EA and EA groups (n = 12/group). The CIRI model was established based on the modified Zea Longa method. EA intervention was applied for 30 min, once a day for 14 days. Modified neurologic severity scores (mNSS) were assessed on day 1,3,7 and 14 after mode- ling. Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect the immunoactivity and distribution of srGAP 1 and Cdc 42 in the cortical ischemic region. Western blot was employed to detect the expression of srGAP 1 and Cdc 42 in the affected cortex.

RESULTS:

The mNSS displayed that the neurological score in the EA group was significantly lower than that in the model group and non-acupoint EA group at the 7th d and 14th d (P<0. 01). Immunofluorescence results showed that cerebral srGAP 1 and Cdc 42 were ex- pressed mainly in the cytoplasm. The fluorescence intensity of srGAP 1 of the EA group was significantly lower than that of the model group and non-acupoint EA group(P<0. 01). Meanwhile the fluorescence intensity of Cdc 42 of the EA group was markedly higher than that in the model group and non-acupoint EA group(P<0. 01). Western blot assay indicated that the expression level of srGAP 1 in the model group was significantly higher than that of the control group( P<0. 01) ,and that of the EA group was much lower than those of the model group and non-acupoint EA group(P<0. 01). There was no significant difference of srGAP 1 expression levels between the non-acupoint EA group and the model group(P>0. 05). Additionally, the protein expression of Cdc 42 in the model group was slightly higher than that of the control group(P>0. 05), and that of the EA group was significantly higher than those of the model group and non-acupoint EA group(P<0. 01). There was no significant difference of Cdc 42 expression levels between the non-acupoint EA group and the model group(P>0. 05).

CONCLUSION:

Cerebral infarction induced increase of cerebral srGAP 1 and decrease of Cdc 42 can be reversed by acupoint EA intervention in CIRI rats, which may be responsible for its effect in improving impaired neurological function after cerebral infarction.

• Authors: En-ze Dai, Fei Long, Biao Gong, Quan-hu Guo, Ying Wang, Zhi-hua Zeng
• Journal: Zhen ci yan jiu = Acupuncture research (Zhen Ci Yan Jiu) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 186-91 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1000-0607 [Print] China
• PMID: 26237968 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• GTPase-Activating Proteins
• srGAP1 protein, rat
• cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein

Topics

• Animals
• Cerebral Infarction (enzymology, genetics, therapy)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Electroacupuncture
• GTPase-Activating Proteins (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Male
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• cdc42 GTP-Binding Protein (genetics, metabolism)