Objective To observe the effect of acupotomy

electroacupuncture(EA)or round-sharp acupuncture needle intervention on the expression of Bcl-2

Bax and Caspase-3proteins in the rectus femoris in rabbits with knee ostarthritis(KOA)

so as to explore their mechanisms underlying improvement of braking-induced joint damage from the cellular apoptosis.Methods Forty-five New Zealand rabbits were equally and randomized into control group

model group

acupotomy(AP)group

EA group and round-sharp acupuncture needle(RSAN)group(n=9in each group).The knee-joint injury model was established by fixing the left knee joint in extention position with plaster bandage.EA(2Hz/100Hz

3mA

20min each time)was applied to the left"Yanglingquan"(GB 34)-"Yinlingquan"(SP 9)and left"Neixiyan"(EX-LE 4)-"Waixiyan"(ST 35)for rabbits in the EA group.The EA treatment was given once daily

3times a week

3weeks in total.For rabbits of the AP group

a needle-knife was held to insert into the front edge of the midpoint

the starting point and the stopping point of the left medial collateral ligamen

lateral collateral ligament and the patellar ligament of the knee to make a loosening manipulation for 5times in a session of treatment

once a week

3times altogether.For rabbits of the RSAN group

a round-sharp needle was performed in the same way to the needle-knife including the stimulation point

the manipulation method and treatment sessions.At the end of the experiment

the left rectus femoris was taken out for detecting the expression of Bcl-2

Bax and Caspase-3proteins with Western blot.ResultsIn comparison with the control group

the passive range of motion(PROM)level was significantly decreased 4

8and 12weeks after modeling(P<0.01)

and the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3proteins in the rectus femoris were considerably upregulated in the model group(P<0.05)

while the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax was notably down-regulated(P<0.05)in the model group.Compared with the model group

the PROM level at week 12after modeling in the AP

EA and RSAN groups were significantly increased(P<0.01);while Bax and Caspase-3expression levels in both AP and RSAN groups were considerably downregulated(P<0.05).No significant differences were found among the five groups in Bcl-2expression levels(P>0.05)

and between the EA and model groups in Bax and Caspase-3expression levels and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax(P>0.05).ConclusionAP

RSAN and EA interventions are effective in improving the knee-joint motion range in KOA rabbits

and this effect of both AP and RSAN is closely associated with their actions in lowering the expression of Bax and Caspase-3proteins of the rectus femoris and in raising ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein(reducing muscular cellular apoptosis).The mechanism of EA intervention in improving PROM may be different.