夹脊电针结合跑台训练对坐骨神经离断损伤大鼠胫骨微结构的影响OA

Objective:To investigate the effects of Jiaji electroacupuncture(EA)combined with treadmill training on tibial microstructure and the protein expression of nerve growth factor(NGF)and its receptor,tropomyosin receptor kinase A(TrkA),in the tibia,spinal cord(T12-L1),injured sciatic nerve,and dorsal root ganglion(DRG)of rats with sciatic nerve transection injury.Methods:A total of 180 male SD rats were randomly assigned into five groups:normal control,model control,treadmill,Jiaji EA,and combination groups.Each group was further divided into three subgroups based on the intervention duration(2,4,and 8 weeks),with 12 rats per subgroup.Except for the normal control group,all rats underwent sciatic nerve transection followed by microsurgical re-suturing to establish the injury model.Interventions commenced on the 3rd postoperative day.The treadmill group received treadmill exercise,the Jiaji EA group received EA at the T12-L1 Jiaji points(dense-disperse wave),and the combination group received EA followed by treadmill training.All treatments were performed once daily,six times per week.Tibial microstructure was evaluated using Micro-CT.Tibial NGF protein expression was detected via Western blotting.The protein expressions of NGF and TrkA in the sciatic nerve,T12-L1 spinal cord,and DRG were assessed by immunohistochemistry.Results:After 2,4,and 8 weeks of intervention,the Treadmill,Jiaji EA,and Combination groups exhibited significantly higher BV/TV,Tb.N,and Tb.Th,alongside lower Tb.Sp compared to the model control group;the combination group showed superior improvements compared to the single intervention groups.At weeks 2 and 4,tibial NGF expression was significantly higher in the Jiaji EA and combination groups than in the model control group(P＜0.05),with the combined group significantly outperforming the treadmill group(P＜0.05).By week 8,the combination group showed the highest tibial NGF expression among all groups(P＜0.05).Furthermore,after 4 and 8 weeks,NGF and TrkA expression in the spinal cord,as well as NGF and TrkA in the sciatic nerve and DRG(at various time points),were significantly upregulated in the intervention groups compared to the model control group(P＜0.05).Notably,at 4 and 8 weeks,the Combination group demonstrated significantly higher levels of NGF and TrkA across the spinal cord,sciatic nerve,and DRG than the single-treatment groups(P＜0.05).Conclusion:Jiaji electroacupuncture combined with treadmill training effectively improves tibial microstructure following sciatic nerve transection in rats.This protective effect may be associated with the upregulated expression of NGF in the tibia and the enhanced NGF/TrkA signaling pathway in the spinal cord,sciatic nerve,and DRG.