过去我们一直在探讨促进运动神经元(MN)损伤后恢复的因素和方法

曾用 HRP轴突逆行输送法观察到针刺能促进舌下神经(运动神经)及桡神经(其运动神经纤维)的再生。但针刺对 MN 胞体损伤后的恢复

对它们在中枢神经系内的存活及再生是否有利尚须研究。据报导将3～6周龄大鼠的舌下神经切断一周后

舌下神经核内 MN胞体数目明显减少。通过针刺对舌下神经切断后舌下神经核内 MN 胞体丧失的影响It was reported previously that acupuncture promotes regeneration of rat's peripheral nerve.In order to study the effect of acupuncture on recovery of motoncuronal lesion and regeneration of central nervous system

we studied the effect of acupuncture on neuronal loss induced by axotomy in the rat hypoglo- ssal nuclei

A total of 6 pairs of rats (acupunctured and controls in pairs) were used

(each pair of)the rats were paired of the same litter and sex.After the right hypoglossal nerves were severed

rats were reared for 14 days.In this period

we gave acupuncture therapy to the acupunctured rats but nothing to the controls

After perfusion

serial paraffin sections of brain stems of rats were cut and stained with cresyl violet

Serial sections per rat were used for counting the perikaryon of the hypoglossal nuclei

The reduced percentage of neuronal population followed axotomy was calculated

It was found that neuro- nal loss was less severe in acupunctured rats

Difference in the redueed percentage of neuronal population between acupunctured rats and controls was significant statistically

it was shown that acupuncture increased survival of lesioned neurons

and thus acupuncture may be helpful to the recovery of neu- ronal lesion.The detailed mechanism is going to be explored.