这可能是头皮针减轻脑缺血损伤并促使肢体功能恢复的机理之一Objective: To study the effect of scalp acupuncture on cerebral basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression in cerebral ischemia model rats. Methods: A total of 50 Wistar rats were randomized into control group
sham operation group
model group
electroacupuncture (EA) group and hand acupuncture group
with 10 cases being in each group. Cerebral ischemia model was established by obstructing blood flow of the right middle cerebral artery with a nylon thread embolus. Two acupuncture needles were inserted into "Baihui" (GV 20) and "Qubin" (GB 7) separately to advance oppositely along the scalp
with the scalp points stimulated with EA or hand manipulation. The treatment was given once daily
continuously for 15 days. The brain tissue sample was fixed with formaldehyde
sliced up
and then stained with immunohistochemical technique for observing changes of bFGF immuno reaction (IR) positive neurons of the cerebral tissue. Results: Auto comparison between 6 hr and 15 d after operation in neurological defect score showed no significant difference in model group ( P >0.05)
but in EA group and hand acupuncture group this neurological defect score decreased apparently after treatment ( P <0.01). There were notable differences between EA group and model group
and between hand acupuncture and model group in the neurological score ( P <0.01); while no distinct difference was found between EA group and hand acupuncture group ( P >0.05)
suggesting a favorable effect of acupuncture in improving cerebral ischemia induced neurological functional disturbance. Results of immunohistochemical staining displayed that bFGF expression in model group appeared in 3 animals (no bFGF expression in control and sham operation groups); the density of bFGF IR in both EA group and hand acupuncture group increased strikingly compared with model group ( P <0.05~0.01); and the effect of hand acupuncture group was superior to that of EA group ( P < 0.05 ). It suggests that acupuncture induced up regulation of bFGF expression maybe contribute to its therapeutic effect in bettering cerebral ischemia and promoting the recovery of the limbs after stroke. Conclusion: Scalp acupuncture can up regulate the expression of bFGF in the brain tissues of the cerebral ischemia rats.