Effects of Electroacupuncture on Expressions of Angiogenesis Factors and Anti-angiogenesis Factors in Brain of Experimental Cerebral Ischemic Rats after Reperfusion

ObjectiveTo explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in improving ischemic stroke.MethodsThe Wistar rat model of focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion was prepared by the thread embolism method. The rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, and an EA group. EA was given at bilateral “Hegu” (LI 4) in rats of the EA group. Expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA was detected with hybridization in situ, and expressions of the angiogenin-1 (Ang-1) and endostatin proteins were detected with the immunohistochemical method.ResultsAs compared with the normal group, the expressions of VEGF mRNA, Ang-1 protein and endostatin protein significantly increased in the model group (all P<0.05); and when compared with the model group, the EA group showed even more significant increase in expressions of the VEGF mRNA and Ang-1 protein (both P<0.05), but with an obvious decline in the increase of expression of endostatin protein (P<0.05).ConclusionsEA can promote angiogenesis in brain of experimental cerebral ischemic rats after reperfusion probably through up-regulating the expression of angiogenesis factors and down-regulating the expression of anti-angiogenesis factors.