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Neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborn rats are associated with increased expression of GDNF-RET and protein kinase B

  • Acupuncture Research
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Abstract

Objective

To explore the neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and to further investigate the role of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) family receptor member RET (rearranged during transfection) and its key downstream phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI-3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway in the process.

Methods

A total of 220 seven-day-old SD rats (of either sex, from 22 broods) were randomly divided into two groups, one (30 rats) for sham-surgery group and the other (190 rats) for HIE model group. The HIE model was established using the left common carotid artery ligation method in combination with hypoxic treatment. The successfully established rats were randomly divided into five groups, including control model group, EA group, sham-EA group, antagonist group and antagonist plus electroacupuncture group, with 35 rats in each group. Baihui (GV 20), Dazhui (GV 14), Quchi (LI 11) and Yongquan (KI 1) acupoints were chosen for acupuncture. EA was performed at Baihui and Quchi for 10 min once a day for continuous 1, 3, 7 and 21 days, respectively. The rats were then killed after the operation and injured cerebral cortex was taken for the measurement of neurologic damage by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and the degenerative changes of cortical ultrastructure by transmission electron microscopy. RET mRNA level and Akt protein level were detected by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analysis, respectively.

Results

EA could ameliorate neurologic damage of the first somatic sensory area (S1Tr) and alleviate the degenerative changes of ultrastructure of cortical neurons in rats subjected to HIE. And the longer acupuncture treatment lasted, the better its therapeutic effect would be. This was accompanied by gradually increased expression of GDNF family receptor RET at the mRNA level and its downstream signaling Akt at the protein level in the ischemic cortex.

Conclusion

EA has neuroprotective effects on HIE and could be a potential therapeutic strategy for HIE in the neonate. Activation of RET/Akt signaling pathway might be involved in this process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, Qingdao Women and Children Hospital, Qingdao, Shandong Province, 266013, China

    Tao Xu  (徐 涛) & Yan-zhen Wan  (万言珍)

  2. College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion and Massage, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China

    Neng-gui Xu  (许能贵), Zhong-hua Yang  (杨忠华), Qing-long Wu  (吴清龙) & Kang-bai Huang  (黄康柏)

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  1. Tao Xu  (徐 涛)
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  2. Neng-gui Xu  (许能贵)
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  3. Zhong-hua Yang  (杨忠华)
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  4. Yan-zhen Wan  (万言珍)
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  5. Qing-long Wu  (吴清龙)
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  6. Kang-bai Huang  (黄康柏)
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Correspondence to Neng-gui Xu  (许能贵).

Additional information

Supported by the 45th China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 20090450856)

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Xu, T., Xu, Ng., Yang, Zh. et al. Neuroprotective effects of electroacupuncture on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborn rats are associated with increased expression of GDNF-RET and protein kinase B. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 22, 457–466 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-1972-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-015-1972-1

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