基于Nrf2/HO-1/PGC-1α通路探讨电针心经穴对缺血性卒中大鼠神经功能的影响OA

Objective It is to observe the effect of electroacupuncture at acupoints of heart meridian on neurological function and oxidative stress-related proteins in rats with ischemic stroke,and to explore its mechanism of action.Methods Eighty-four male SD rats were taken,21 of which were randomly selected as sham operation group,and the remaining 63 rats were prepared with middle cerebral artery occlusion to establish models of ischemic stroke.The successfully modeled rats were randomly divided into model group,heart meridian group(HM group)and non-meridian non-acupoint group(control group),with 21 rats in each group.The rats of the HM group were treated with electroacupuncture at Jiquan(HT 1),Shaohai(HT 3),Lingdao(HT 4)and Shenmen(HT 7)acupoints,the ones of the control group were treated with electroacupuncture at non-acupoint points located 1.5 mm lateral to the heart meridian at the same segment,the sham oper-ation and model groups were only restrained without electroacupuncture intervention,all the groups were treated daily for 30 minutes per time,continuously treated for 7 days.After the last intervention,the neurological deficit score(the sum of the Longa and Bederson scores)was calculated;the pathological morphology of brain tissue was observed by HE staining,Nissl staining and transmission electron microscopy;the serum levels of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2),heme oxygen-ase-1(HO-1)and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α(PGC-1α)were measured by the ELISA method;the protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α in brain tissue were detected by Western blot and RT-qPCR methods.Results Compared with the sham operation group,the neurological deficit scores of rats in the model group,HM group and control group were significantly increased(all P<0.05);the neuronal density in cerebral infarct ar-ea was reduced with dissolved Nissl bodies,significantly decreased number of neurons and mitochondrial damage;the ser-um levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α,as well as the relative protein and mRNA expressionls of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α in brain tissue were all significantly reduced(all P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the neurological deficit scores of rats in the HM group were significantly decreased(all P<0.05);the neural cell edema in the cerebral infarction area was significantly alleviated with less necrotic cells,and the mitochondrial morphology was improved;the serum levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α,as well as the relative protein and mRNA expressions of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α in brain tis-sue were all significantly increased(all P<0.05).The brain tissue damage in the HM group was significantly milder than that in the control group,and the serum levels of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α,as well as the relative protein and mRNA ex-pressions of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α in brain tissue were all significantly higher than those in the control group(all P<0.05);there were no statistically significant differences in brain tissue damage or the expressions of Nrf2,HO-1 and PGC-1α between the model group and control group(all P>0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at acupoints of heart Merid-ian can significantly alleviate neurological damage in rats with ischemic stroke;the mechanism may be related to the activa-tion of the Nrf2/HO-1/PGC-1α pathway,thereby alleviating oxidative stress-induced damage.