Effect of acupuncture on neurovascular units after cerebral infarction in rats through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wei, Linlin^{a; 1} | Zeng, Kexue^{b; 1} | Gai, Juanjuan^{c; *} | Zhou, Feixiong^{b; *} | Wei, Zhenglin^b | Bao, Qinghui^d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation, Shenzhen Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China | [b] Department of Acupuncture Rehabilitation, Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | [c] Department of Anorectal, Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China | [d] Department of Traditional Therapy, Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Dr. Juanjuan Gai, Department of Anorectal, Guangdong Province Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China. E-mail: g9ppttfj5svi5svi5@163.com and Dr. Feixiong Zhou, Department of Acupuncture Rehabilitation, Guangdong Second Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, No. 60 Hengfu Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510095, Guangdong, China. Tel.: +86 15800001952; Fax: +86 020 83482172; E-mail: xiaoxiawang525@163.com.

Note: [1] Co-first authors.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE:To study the effect of acupuncture on neurovascular units after cerebral infarction (CI) in rats through the phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. METHODS:A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 12), model group (n = 12) and acupuncture group (n = 12). The external carotid artery was only exposed in model group, while the post-CI ischemia-reperfusion model was established using the suture method in the other 2 groups. After modeling, the rats in sham group and model group were fixed and sampled, while those in acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture intervention for 2 weeks and sampled. The neurological deficits of rats were evaluated using the Zea-Longa score, and the spatial learning and memory of rats were detected via water maze test. Moreover, the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and synuclein (SYN) in brain tissues were detected via immunohistochemistry, and the relative protein expressions of PI3K p85, PI3K p110 and p-AKT were detected via Western blotting. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions of VEGF, GAP-43 and SYN were detected via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS:The Zea-Longa score was significantly increased in model group and acupuncture group compared with that in sham group (p < 0.05), while it significantly declined in acupuncture group compared with that in model group (p < 0.05). The escape latency was significantly prolonged and the times of crossing platform were significantly reduced in model group and acupuncture group compared with those in sham group (p < 0.05), while the escape latency was significantly shortened and the times of crossing platform were significantly increased in acupuncture group compared with those in model group (p < 0.05). The positive expressions of VEGF, GAP-43 and SYN were obviously increased in model group and acupuncture group compared with those in sham group (p < 0.05), while they were obviously increased in acupuncture group compared with those in model group (p < 0.05). Besides, model group and acupuncture group had significantly higher relative protein expressions of PI3K p85, PI3K p110 and p-AKT than sham group (p < 0.05), while acupuncture group also had significantly higher relative protein expressions of PI3K p85, PI3K p110 and p-AKT than model group (p < 0.05). The relative mRNA expressions of VEGF, GAP-43 and SYN were remarkably increased in model group and acupuncture group compared with those in sham group (p < 0.05), while they were remarkably increased in acupuncture group compared with those in model group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION:Acupuncture promotes the repair of neurovascular units after CI in rats through activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby exerting a protective effect on neurovascular units.

Keywords: Acupuncture, cerebral infarction, PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, neurovascular units

DOI: 10.3233/CH-190659

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 75, no. 4, pp. 387-397, 2020