Basic Research
The impact of electroacupuncture on the expression of AQP4 and CLN5 in the blood-brain barrier after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion
Xianming Lin, Jinxia Li, Xu Yao
Published 2015-07-25
Cite as Chin J Phys Med Rehabil, 2015, 37(7): 498-502. DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0254-1424.2015.07.005
Abstract
ObjectiveTo observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment of different durations on the expressions of AQP4 and CLN5 in the blood-brain barrier after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion
MethodsSixty-four male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a model group, a sham operation group, a 7-day EA-pretreatment group (EAP-7 group) and a 15-day EA-pretreatment group (EAP-15 group), each of 16. After EA-pretreatment on the baihui and shuigou acupoints for 7 days or 15 days, a model of unilateral middle cerebral artery embolism (MCAO) model was induced in the rats of the model, EAP-7 and EAP-15 group using a modified Longa method. In the sham operation group the carotid artery was separated without middle cerebral artery embolism. The reperfusion was begun 90 min after the MCAO modeling. Immunohistochemical methods and fluorescence quantitative PCR were applied to detect the expression of AQP4, CLN5 and their mRNAs expression in the blood brain barrier (BBB) 24h after the operation.
ResultsCompared with the sham operation group, the expression of AQP4 positive cells and AQP4 mRNA in the BBB in the other three groups had increased significantly, while the expression of CLN5 positive cells and CLN5 mRNA was significantly less. Compared with the model group, the expression of AQP4 positive cells and AQP4 mRNA in the EAP-7 and EAP-15 groups was significantly reduced, while the expression of CLN5 positive cells and CLN5 mRNA was significantly increased. Moreover, the expression of AQP4 positive cells and AQP4 mRNA in the EAP-15 group were significantly higher than in the EAP-7 group, while the expression of CLN5 positive cells and CLN5 mRNA were significantly lower.
ConclusionsEA-pretreatment on the baihui and shuigou acupoints can restrain the expression of AQP4-positive cells and AQP4 mRNA and promote that of CLN5-positive cells and CLN5 mRNA in the BBB after cerebral ischemia and reperfusion, at least in rats. The BBB protection effect is better when the EA-pretreatment lasts longer. The mechanisms of cerebral ischemia tolerance may be related to the regulation of AQP4, CLN5 and their mRNAs in the blood-brain barrier after cerebral injury.
Key words:
Acupuncture; Cerebral ischemia; Reperfusion; Blood-brain barrier; AQP4; CLN5
Contributor Information
Xianming Lin
The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hangzhou 310053, China
Jinxia Li
Xu Yao