Objective To observe the influence of scalp-acupuncture on the expression of pentraxin 3(PTX3)

Interleukin(IL)-1β

zonula occludens-1(ZO-1)mRNA and Occludin mRNA in striatum in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease(AICD)rats

so as to investigate its mechanisms underlying improvement of AICD.MethodsForty-eight male SD rats were randomly allocated to control

model

IL-1 Ra and IL-1 Ra+scalp-acupuncture groups(n=12 rats in each group). The AICD model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery(MCAO). Rats of the IL-1 Ra group and IL-1 Ra+scalp-acupuncture group received intraperitoneal injection of IL-1 Ra(0. 05 mg·kg

(-1)

·d(-1)·d

(-1)

)

once daily for 6 days. Scalp acupuncture stimulation was applied to bilateral"Dingnieqianxiexian"(MS6)once daily for 6 days for rats in IL-1 Ra+scalp-acupuncture group. Before and after intervention

the neurologic deficit score(NDS)was evaluated according to Longa's method. The expression of striatum PTX3 and IL-1β was detected by immunohistochemistry

and ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA in the striatum tissue were detected by fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR.The Evans Blue(EB)tracer method was used to monitor the degree of blood-brain barrier(BBB)damage.ResultsFollowing modeling

the NDS

EB content and the expression of PTX3 and IL-1β in the striatum tissue were significantly increased

and the ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression was considerably decreased in the model group compared with the control group(P

<

0. 05). After the interventions and compared with the model group

the NDS

EB content in both IL-1 Ra and IL-1 Ra+scalp acupuncture groups

and PTX3 in the IL-1 Ra group were significantly downregulated(P

<

0. 05)

while the striatum ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression in both IL-1 Ra and IL-1 Ra+scalp acupuncture groups

and PTX3 in the IL-1 Ra+scalp acupuncture group were obviously up-regulated(P

<

0. 05)

and the expression of IL-1β was obviously down-regulated in the IL-1 Ra+scalp acupuncture group(P

<

0. 05)rather than in the IL-1 Ra group(P

>

0. 05). The effects of scalp acupuncture combined with IL-1 Ra were obviously superior to that of IL-1 Ra in down-regulating NDS

EB content and IL-1β expression level

and in up-regulating PTX3

ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA expression levels(P

<

0. 05).ConclusionScalp acupuncture can improve neurological function and reduce the degree of BBB injury in AICD rats

which may be associated with its function in up-regulating the expression of PTX3 and in promoting the expression of ZO-1 mRNA and Occludin mRNA.