Effects of eye-acupuncture on the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the brain of rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of eye-acupuncture therapy and body-acupuncture therapy on the expression of brain-deprived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (CIRI).MethodsAccording to random number table, 48 SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including normal control group (group A), sham operation group (group B), model group (group C), eye-acupuncture group (group D), non-acupoint of eye-acupuncture group (group E) and body-acupuncture group (group F), eight rats in each group. Artery infarction reperfusion model were prepared by using suture-occluded method. Liver region, upper energizer area, lower energizer area and kidney region were selected in the group D. Acupuncture was carried out at the point located at 3 mm from the acupoint areas in the group E. Qūchí ( LI 11), Zúsānl ( ST 36) and other acupoints were selected in the group F. Zea Longa scoring method was utilized for scoring the neural functions of rats; real-time PCR was carried out to examine the expression level of BDNF mRNA in the brain 72 h after ischemia reperfusion; western blot was carried out to examine the expression level of BDNF protein in the brain 72 h after ischemia reperfusion.ResultsThe symptoms of neurologic impairments in the rats of the group D were alleviated in comparison to those in the group C (P<0.01), and the difference between the group D and the group F was not statistically significant (P>0.05); Compared with the group C, the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF in the brain of rats in the group D and the group F both increased (P<0.01), but the difference between the group D and the group F was not statistically significant (P>0.05).ConclusionThe functions of eye-acupuncture and body-acupuncture in improving cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury are similar, and the functional mechanisms for the two different therapies may be related to the up-regulation of BDNF expression in brain and thus promote the repairing of brain tissues.