The effect of electroacupuncture on spontaneous recurrent seizure and expression of GAD67 mRNA in dentate gyrus in a rat model of epilepsy

Concerns regarding the side effects of pharmacological approaches have recently increased interest in the use of acupuncture for treatment of epilepsy. Although clinical evidence for the acupunctural anti-epileptic effect has been demonstrated, the precise mechanism still remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on spontaneous recurrent seizure (SRS) and expression of GAD67 mRNA in dentate gyrus (DG) in epileptic rats. EA at bilateral acupoints of Zusanli (St36) was administered. Two sham EA controls were set: sham EA at bilateral nearby nonacupoints in the hamstring muscles, and sham EA at bilateral St36 without electrical stimulation. Lithium-pilocarpine injection was performed to establish the rat model of epilepsy at the 1st day. Three time points were set according to the day when the rats were killed (30th, 45th, 60th day). The results showed that EA at St36 significantly reduced the times of spontaneous recurrent seizure, neither of the two sham EA controls displayed significant effect on spontaneous recurrent seizure. Moreover, EA at St36 significantly elevated the expression of GAD67 mRNA in DG granule cell layer (GCL), but not in the hilus; neither of the two sham controls showed significant effect on the expression of GAD67 mRNA in granule cell layer or hilus. The findings suggest that EA at St36 possess some curative effect on epileptic rats, related with change of GAD67 mRNA level in DG region.