Electroacupuncture improves microcirculation and neuronal morphology in the spinal cord of a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion

作     者：Dai-xun Jiang Zhi-song Lu Ge-bin Li Sheng-yong Sun Xiang Mu Peter Lee Wu Chen 

作者机构：Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine Beijing University of Agriculture Department of Veterinary Biochemistry Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University 

出 版 物：《Neural Regeneration Research》 (中国神经再生研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2015年第10卷第2期

页      面：237-243页

核心收录：

学科分类：1005[医学-中医学] 100512[医学-针灸推拿学] 10[医学] 

基　　金：supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.31372473,30871886 the Funding Project for Academic Human Resources Development in Institutions of Higher Learning under the Jurisdiction of Beijing Municipality of China,No.PHR201107134 the 2012 Scientific Research Quality Raising Funds of Beijing University of Agriculture of China,No.PXM2012_014207_000010 

主　　题：nerve regeneration electroacupuncture intervertebral disc blood circulation inflamma-tion neuroprotection motor function neurons NSFC grants neural regeneration 

摘      要：Most studies on spinal cord neuronal injury have focused on spinal cord tissue histology and the expression of nerve cell damage and repair-related genes. The importance of the microcirculation is often ignored in spinal cord injury and repair research. Therefore, in this study, we established a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion by inserting a silica gel pad into the left ventral sur-face of T13. Electroacupuncture was used to stimulate the bilateralZusanlipoint （ST36） and Neiting point （ST44） for 14 days. Compared with control animals, blood lfow in the ifrst lumbar vertebra （L1） was noticeably increased in rats given electroacupuncture. Microvessel density in the T13 segment of the spinal cord was increased significantly as well. The number of normal neurons was higher in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. In addition, vacuolation in the white matter was lessened. No obvious glial cell proliferation was visible. Furthermore, hindlimb motor function was improved signiifcantly. Collectively, our results suggest that electroacupuncture can improve neuronal morphology and microcirculation, and promote the recovery of neurological functions in a rat model of intervertebral disc extrusion.