The Anti-apoptosis Effect of Single Electroacupuncture Treatment via Suppressing Neuronal Autophagy in the Acute Stage of Ischemic Stroke Without Infarct Alleviation

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to investigate the antiapoptotic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) in the acute stage of ischaemic stroke in rats. The cerebral ischemia model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion in rats. A single EA treatment was performed at the acute stage of ischaemic stroke. The neurological function, brain water content, apoptotic cell number, and cerebral infarct volume were assessed in stroke rats. The expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3II/I, Beclin1, P62, and LAMP1), Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, and cleaved caspase-3 (CCAS3) were measured by Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry. Rapamycin (RAP, an activator of autophagy) was used to confirm the antiapoptotic effect of EA via regulating autophagy. The brain edema infarct size and apoptotic cell number were increasing within 3 days following stroke, and brain edema reached its peak at 24 h after stroke. EA treatment at 24 h after ischaemic stroke obviously suppressed the number of apoptotic cells and brain edema. However, there were no significant differences in infarct volumes among EA-12 h, EA-24 h, and MCAO/R group. Moreover, EA treatment at 24 h after ischaemic stroke obviously suppressed the expression of CCAS3, LC3II/I, Beclin1 while increasing the level of P62 and LAMP1 and hence mediating autophagy, which was reversed by RAP. Meanwhile, the expression of SIRT1, p-ERK1/2, p-JNK were promoted by EA at 24 h after ischaemic stroke. In conclusion, EA treatment may suppress apoptosis possibly via regulating autophagy in the acute period after ischaemic stroke, hence reducing brain injury.

Electroacupuncture ameliorates inflammatory response induced by retinal ischemia-reperfusion injury and protects the retina through the DOR-BDNF/Trkb pathway

“…As shown in the images of H&E staining at 1, 3, and 7 days of RIRI, the two pairs of EA points had a protective impact on the retinal structure and RGC numbers. The results of TUNEL staining revealed that the numbers of apoptotic cells in the two EA groups at 1 and 3 days of RIRI were significantly reduced, consistent with the previous studies (Wang et al, 2020 ; Xing et al, 2021 ). But there was no significant effect on the seventh day of RIRI because the peak of apoptosis had passed, leading to reduction in the number of apoptotic cells in each group.…”

Electroacupuncture Inhibits Myelin Sheath Injury in the Internal Capsule After Focal Cerebral Infarction in Rats Through the Nogo-A/NgR Signaling Pathway

“…Notably, EA stimulation of the forepaw in aged rats can substantially increase blood flow in cortical brain tissue [ 29 ]. The best treatment time to improve cerebral circulation should be within 2–3 days after onset, but particularly at 24 h, when apoptosis and brain edema reach a peak after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury [ 30 ]. Typically, acupuncture intervention within 2 days of a stroke is the best time to achieve early recovery of motor function [ 31 ].…”

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) Alleviates Brain Ischemic Injury by Regulating Neuronal Oxidative Stress, Pyroptosis, and Mitophagy

“…Before surgery, rats were fasted for 10 h but allowed to drink. The operation details are illustrated in our previous publications [ 17 , 60 ].…”

“…The neurological deficit assessment was performed in all rats at 2 h or 72 h after MCAO/R in a blind manner. The details are reported in our published articles [ 16 , 60 ].…”