scholarly journals Electroacupuncture and Brain Protection against Cerebral Ischemia: Specific Effects of Acupoints

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Zhou ◽  
Jingchun Guo ◽  
Jieshi Cheng ◽  
Gencheng Wu ◽  
Jian Sun ◽  
...  

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow (CBF) and reduce ischemic infarction in the rat model of cerebral ischemia (middle cerebral artery occlusion, MCAO). Since multiple acupoints are recommended to treat cerebral ischemia, we performed this study to investigate if there is any variation in EA protection against cerebral ischemia with the stimulation of certain “acupoints” in rats. One hour of right MCAO with an 85% reduction of blood flow induced an extensive infarction (32.9% ±3.8% of the brain), serious neurological deficits (scale = 6.0±0.5, on a scale of 0–7), and a 17% (10 out of 60) mortality. EA, with a sparse-dense wave (5 Hz/20 Hz) at 1.0 mA for 30 minutes, at Du 20 and Du 26 greatly reduced the infarction to 4.5% ±1.5% (P<0.01), significantly improved neurological deficit (scale = 1.0±0.5,P<0.01), and decreased the death rate to 7% (2 out of 30,P<0.01). Similarly, EA at left LI 11 & PC 6 reduced the infarct volume to 8.6% ±3.8% (P<0.01), improved the neurological deficit (scale = 2.0±1.0,P<0.01), and decreased the death rate to 8% (2 out of 24,P<0.01). In sharp contrast, EA at right LI 11 & PC 6 did not lead to any significant changes in the infarct volume (33.4% ±6.3%), neurological deficit (scale = 6.5±0.5), and the death rate (20%, 5 out of 24). EA at left GB 34 & SP 6, also had an inconspicuous effect on the ischemic injury. EA at Du 20 & Du 26 or at left LI 11 & PC 6 instantaneously induced a significant increase in cerebral blood flow. Neither EA at right LI 11 & PC 6 nor at GB 34 & SP 6 increased cerebral blood flow. These results revealed that the EA protection against cerebral ischemia is relatively acupoint specific.

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Zhou ◽  
Jingchun Guo ◽  
Jieshi Cheng ◽  
Gencheng Wu ◽  
Ying Xia

We explored the optimal duration of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation for protecting the brain against ischemic injury. The experiments were carried out in rats exposed to right middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 60 min followed by 24-hr reperfusion. EA was delivered to “Shuigou” (Du 26) and “Baihui” (Du 20) acupoints with sparse-dense wave (5/20 Hz) at 1.0 mA for 5, 15, 30, and 45 min, respectively. The results showed that 30 min EA, starting at 5 minutes after the onset of MCAO (EA during MCAO) or 5 minutes after reperfusion (EA after MCAO), significantly reduced ischemic infarct volume, attenuated neurological deficits, and decreased death rate with a larger reduction of the ischemic infarction in the former group. Also in the group of EA during MCAO, this protective benefit was positively proportional to the increase in the period of stimulation, that is, increased protection in response to EA from 5- to 30-min stimulation. In all groups, EA induced a significant increase in cerebral blood flow and promoted blood flow recovery after reperfusion, and both blood flow volume and blood cell velocity returned to the preischemia level in a short period of time. Surprisingly, EA for 45 min did not show reduction in the neurological deficits or the infarct volume and instead demonstrated an increase in death rate in this group. Although EA for 45 min still increased the blood flow during MCAO, it led to a worsening of perfusion after reperfusion compared to the group subjected only to ischemia. The neuroprotection induced by an “optimal” period (30 min) of EA was completely blocked by Naltrindole, aδ-opioid receptor (DOR) antagonist (10 mg/kg, i.v.). These findings suggest that earlier EA stimulation leads to better outcomes, and that EA-induced neuroprotection against ischemia depends on an optimal EA-duration via multiple pathways including DOR signaling, while “over-length” stimulation exacerbates the ischemic injury.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 592-612
Author(s):  
Ye Feng ◽  
Qian Xu ◽  
Raymond Tak Fai Cheung

Cerebral ischemia induces oxidative injury and increases the intracellular calcium ion concentration to activate several calcium-dependent proteases such as calpains. Calpain activation leads to various necrotic and apoptotic processes. Calpeptin is a potent, cell-permeable calpain inhibitor. As a strong antioxidant and free radical scavenger, melatonin shows beneficial effect in rodent models of focal cerebral ischemia when given prior to ischemia or reperfusion. This study was focused on the neuroprotective effects of melatonin and/or calpeptin given after onset of reperfusion. For this purpose, right-sided middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 90 minutes followed by 24 or 72 hours of reperfusion was performed in male Sprague Dawley rats, then, melatonin 50 or 150 µg/kg, calpeptin 10, 15 or 50 µg/kg or a combination of melatonin 50 µg/kg plus calpeptin 15 or 50 µg/kg were injected via an intracerebroventricular route at 15 minutes after onset of reperfusion. Melatonin or calpeptin tended to reduce the relative infarct volume and significantly decreased the neurological deficit at 24 hours. The combination achieved a greater protection than each of them alone. Melatonin, calpeptin or the combination all decreased Fluoro-Jade B (FJB)+ degenerative neurons and cleaved/total caspase-3 ratio at 24 hours. These treatments did not significantly impact the density of surviving neurons and ED-1+ macrophage/activated microglia. At the 72-hour-reperfusion, melatonin or the combination decreased the relative infarct volume and neurological deficit. Nevertheless, only the combination reduced FJB+ degenerating neurons at 72 hours. In conclusion, a combination of melatonin and calpeptin exerted synergistic protection against post-reperfusion injury in a rat MCAO stroke model.


2021 ◽  
pp. neurintsurg-2021-018239
Author(s):  
Gregory A Christoforidis ◽  
Niloufar Saadat ◽  
Mira Liu ◽  
Yong Ik Jeong ◽  
Steven Roth ◽  
...  

BackgroundSanguinate, a bovine PEGylated carboxyhemoglobin-based oxygen carrier with vasodilatory, oncotic and anti-inflammatory properties designed to release oxygen in hypoxic tissue, was tested to determine if it improves infarct volume, collateral recruitment and blood flow to the ischemic core in hyperacute middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).MethodsUnder an IACUC approved protocol, 14 mongrel dogs underwent endovascular permanent MCAO. Seven received Sanguinate (8 mL/kg) intravenously over 10 min starting 30 min following MCAO and seven received a similar volume of normal saline. Relative cerebral blood flow (rCBF) was assessed using neutron-activated microspheres prior to MCAO, 30 min following MCAO and 30 min following intervention. Pial collateral recruitment was scored and measured by arterial arrival time (AAT) immediately prior to post-MCAO microsphere injection. Diffusion-weighted 3T MRI was used to assess infarct volume approximately 2 hours after MCAO.ResultsMean infarct volumes for control and Sanguinate-treated subjects were 4739 mm3 and 2585 mm3 (p=0.0443; r2=0.687), respectively. Following intervention, rCBF values were 0.340 for controls and 0.715 in the Sanguinate group (r2=0.536; p=0.0064). Pial collateral scores improved only in Sanguinate-treated subjects and AAT decreased by a mean of 0.314 s in treated subjects and increased by a mean of 0.438 s in controls (p<0.0276).ConclusionPreliminary results indicate that topload bolus administration of Sanguinate in hyperacute ischemic stroke significantly improves infarct volume, pial collateral recruitment and CBF in experimental MCAO immediately following its administration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-59
Author(s):  
Martin Juenemann ◽  
Tobias Braun ◽  
Nadine Schleicher ◽  
Mesut Yeniguen ◽  
Patrick Schramm ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveThis study was designed to investigate the indirect neuroprotective properties of recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) pretreatment in a rat model of transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).MethodsOne hundred and ten male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups receiving either 5,000 IU/kg rhEPO intravenously or saline 15 minutes prior to MCAO and bilateral craniectomy or sham craniectomy. Bilateral craniectomy aimed at elimination of the space-consuming effect of postischemic edema. Diagnostic workup included neurological examination, assessment of infarct size and cerebral edema by magnetic resonance imaging, wet–dry technique, and quantification of hemispheric and local cerebral blood flow (CBF) by flat-panel volumetric computed tomography.ResultsIn the absence of craniectomy, EPO pretreatment led to a significant reduction in infarct volume (34.83 ± 9.84% vs. 25.28 ± 7.03%; p = 0.022) and midline shift (0.114 ± 0.023 cm vs. 0.083 ± 0.027 cm; p = 0.013). We observed a significant increase in regional CBF in cortical areas of the ischemic infarct (72.29 ± 24.00% vs. 105.53 ± 33.10%; p = 0.043) but not the whole hemispheres. Infarct size-independent parameters could not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in cerebral edema with EPO treatment.ConclusionsSingle-dose pretreatment with rhEPO 5,000 IU/kg significantly reduces ischemic lesion volume and increases local CBF in penumbral areas of ischemia 24 h after transient MCAO in rats. Data suggest indirect neuroprotection from edema and the resultant pressure-reducing and blood flow-increasing effects mediated by EPO.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hock-Kean Liew ◽  
Jon-Son Kuo ◽  
Jia-Yi Wang ◽  
Cheng-Yoong Pang

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) protects brain from ischemic/reperfusion (I/R) injury, and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthases partially reduces G-CSF protection. We thus further investigated the effects of G-CSF on ischemia-induced NO production and its consequence on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and neurological deficit. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) microinfused above middle cerebral artery caused a rapid reduction of rCBF (ischemia) which lasted for 30 minutes and was followed by a gradual recovery of blood flow (reperfusion) within the striatal region. Regional NO concentration increased rapidly (NO surge) during ischemia and recovered soon to the baseline. G-CSF increased rCBF resulting in shorter ischemic duration and an earlier onset of reperfusion. The enhancement of the ischemia-induced NO by G-CSF accompanied by elevation of phospho-Akt and phospho-eNOS was noted, suggesting an activation of Akt/eNOS. I/R-induced infarct volume and neurological deficits were also reduced by G-CSF treatment. Inhibition of NO synthesis by L-NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME) significantly reduced the effects of G-CSF on rCBF, NO surge, infarct volume, and neurological deficits. We conclude that G-CSF increases rCBF through a NO surge mediated by Akt/eNOS, which partially contributes to the beneficial effect of G-CSF on brain I/R injury.


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