Objective To observe the effect of"Nape Seven Needles"on the expressions of Delta-like ligand 4(Dll 4)and hairy and enhancer of split homolog 1(Hes 1)in cervical intervertebral disc degeneration(IVDD)rats

so as to explore its mechanism of deferring the degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc.Methods SD male rats were randomly divided into a normal group

a model group and a nape seven needles group(n=11in each group).The IVDD model was established by staticdynamic imbalance method."Nape Seven Needles"acupoints were bilateral"Fengchi"(GB 20)

"Tianzhu"(BL 10)

"Wangu"(GB 12)and"Fengfu"(GV 16).The rats in the nape seven needles group were treated for 4weeks

once a day

with needles retained for 20 minutes.Tilted plane test was used to observe the angle changes.The morphology of cervical intervertebral disc was observed after H.E.stain.Dll 4and Hes 1mRNA and protein expression in intervertebral disc tissues were detected by realtime fluorescent quantitative PCR and Western blot

respectively.Results Compared with that in the normal group

the angle of tilted plane in the model group decreased(P<0.05);compared with that in the model group

the angle in the nape seven needles group increased(P<0.05).The structure of cervical intervertebral disc was normal and the fiber ring was arranged orderly in the normal group.The morphology of cervical intervertebral disc is irregular in the model group

and the number of nucleus pulposus cells decreased compared with that in the normal group.The structure of cervical intervertebral disc in the nape seven needles group was similar to that in the normal group.Compared with that in the normal group

the expression of Dll 4mRNA decreased in the model group(P<0.05).The expression of Dll 4mRNA in the nape seven needles group was higher than that in the model group(P<0.05).The expression of Hes 1mRNA in the model group was higher than that in the normal group(P<0.05).The protein expressions of Dll 4and Hes 1in the nape seven needles group were higher than those in the model group(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture at"Nape Seven Needles"acupoints can defer the degeneration of cervical intervertebral disc

which may be related to its regulation of Dll 4and Hes 1mRNA and protein expression in the intervertebral disc tissue.