Effect of Electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI04) on Capillary Density and Expression of CD34 after Focal Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfu-sion in Rats

MA Jing-xi; LUO Yong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-9771.2014.03.001

Abstract：Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Hegu (LI04) on capillary density and expression of CD34 after focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion in rats. Methods 90 rats were randomly divided into normal group (n=6), model group (n=42) and electroacu-puncture group (n=42). A rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion was made by filament occlusion in the model group and the elec-troacupuncture group. And the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture. They were observed 2 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 21 d after reperfusion 1 h followed ischemia. HE staining was used to observe and calculate the infarct volume and capillary density, and immu-nohistology was used to detect the expression of CD34 after neurologic symptoms rating. Results Compared with the model group, the neuro-logic symptoms score significantly decreased 2 h after reperfusion in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.01), and still decreased 21 d after re-perfusion (P<0.05). The infarct volume significantly was smaller in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.01). The cap-illary density was higher 2 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d after reperfusion in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group (P<0.05). Com-pared with the model group, the expression of CD34 significantly increased 3 d after reperfusion in the electroacupuncture group (P<0.01), and it reached a peak at 7 d after reperfusion (P<0.01), and still higher at 14 d. Conclusion Electroacupuncture can promote the expression of CD34 and the capillary density, and stimulate the angiogenesis after focal ischemia/reperfusion.