Electroacupuncture pretreatment inhibits the TLR4/NF-κB/TXNIP/NLRP3 signaling pathway and modulates microglial polarization to alleviate cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats.

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury is frequently associated with neuroinflammation. The modulation of microglial polarization presents a promising approach for addressing cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. While electroacupuncture preconditioning has demonstrated efficacy in the management of ischemic stroke, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain inadequately understood.

The influence of ferroptosis on the OGD/R model in rat microglia.

Objective: We aimed to explore the influence of ferroptosis on an oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) model in primary rat microglia.

Methods: Primary microglia were extracted from rats and cultured in vitro. The cells were subjected to a hypoxic environment for 6 h in a glucose-free medium, and then re-oxygenated for 24 h in DMEM/F12.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment alleviates rats cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury by inhibiting ferroptosis.

Objective: To explore the preventive effect of electroacupuncture pretreatment on stroke in rats by inhibiting ferroptosis and oxidative stress.

Methods: Rats were randomly assigned to the sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R), MCAO/R + EP, MCAO/R + EP + erastin, and MCAO/R + EP + ferrostatin 1 groups. Daily electroacupuncture was performed 2 weeks before establishing the MCAO/R model utilizing the modified Zea Longa suture method.

Electroacupuncture pretreatment alleviates spasticity after stroke in rats by inducing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and the gut-brain axis.

Objective: Spasticity is one of the most prevalent ischemic stroke sequelae and the leading cause of disability after stroke. Although electroacupuncture pretreatment has been shown to be effective in the treatment of ischemic stroke, its therapeutic effect and mechanism on post-stroke spasm remain unknown. The purpose of this study was to look into the potential mechanism of electroacupuncture pretreatment in inducing the NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling pathway and the gut-brain axis in the therapy of spasm after stroke.

Electric Acupuncture Treatment Promotes Angiogenesis in Rats with Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Through EphB4/EphrinB2 Mediated Src/PI3K Signal Pathway.

Background: Cerebral infarction is one of the most common causes of disability and death worldwide. It is reported that electric acupuncture was able to improve the prognosis of cerebral infarction by promoting angiogenesis. However, the corresponding signal pathways of angiogenesis promotes by electric acupuncture treatment needs to be further explored.