Electro-acupuncture stimulation improves motor disorders in Parkinsonian rats

The Cortical and Striatal Gene Expression Profile of 100 Hz Electroacupuncture Treatment in 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Parkinson's Disease Model

“…Previously, we demonstrated that long-term, high-frequency EA stimulation on the points of DAZHUI (GV 14) and BAIHUI (GV 21) attenuated the rotational behavior of PD rats with partial lesions and improved motor activity [8, 9, 12]. In addition, previous results suggest that the effects of EA may be multitargeted and may be effective at PD without increasing dopamine (DA) [12, 13]. Thus, the 6-OHDA-injected rat model may provide an opportunity to test how the cortex and lesion-lateral STR develop a concerted reaction and change after EA treatment.…”

“…EA stimulation at 100 Hz was performed following our previously described method [8, 9, 12]. Rats were randomly divided into three groups: the sham group, the 6-OHDA-injected group, and the 6-OHDA-injected group with EA stimulation at 100 Hz.…”

“…Some experimental results reveal that EA could increase the number of tyrosine hydroxylase- (TH-) positive neurons in the substantia nigra and striatum (STR) of an MPTP- (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-) treated mouse model [10, 11]. Using the hemiparkinsonian rat model induced by unilateral transection of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB), our previous studies showed that 100 Hz EA could significantly improve the apomorphine-induced motor disorder symptoms, but the dopamine (DA) content did not increase significantly [12, 13]. Moreover, the effects of high-frequency EA on the motor symptoms of Parkinsonian rats involved the upregulation of endogenous neurotrophins [8, 9] and BDNF and trkB receptors in a 6-hydroxydopamine- (6-OHDA-) induced rat PD model [14], as well as the restoration of the homeostasis of DAergic transmission in the basal ganglia circuit and the suppression of inflammatory responses in the ventral midbrain [9, 12, 15].…”

A review of Omics research in acupuncture: The relevance and future prospects for understanding the nature of meridians and acupoints

“…High frequency EA is known to alleviate PD motor symptoms in animal models (Liang et al, 2002(Liang et al, , 2003Liu et al, 2004;Jia et al, 2009Jia et al, , 2010Wang et al, 2011), such as the hemiparkinsonian rat model induced by unilateral transection of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). Surprisingly, the EA relief of the apomorphine-induced motor disorder symptoms did not correlate with the dopamine content in the midbrain (Jia et al, , 2010.…”

GDNF and PD: Less Common Points of View

“…Park et al, 2003;Y.P. Yu et al, 2010) and medial forebrain bundle transection (Jia et al, 2009(Jia et al, , 2010X.B. Liang et al, 2003) PD models, and also in PD patients (Chang et al, 2008;Zhuang & Wang, 2000).…”