[Restraining effects of acupuncture on photoreceptor cell apoptosis in rats with retinitis pigmentosa induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea].

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on photoreceptor cell apoptosis in rats with retinitis pigmentosa induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU).

Methods: Fifty-day-old female SD rats were established into model of retinitis pigmentosa by once intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg MNU, and randomly grouped to the acupuncture group and the model group for observing the cell apoptosis in rats and compared with that in normal rats at the corresponding time points.

Results: Acupuncture showed no effect on cell apoptosis at its peak of occurring, apoptotic phenomena still could be seen on days 5 and 7, but it was significantly less in the acupuncture group than in the model group (P < 0.01). Moreover, acupuncture showed a restraining effect on the up-regulation of caspase-3 activity.

Conclusion: Acupuncture can restrain the MNU induced apoptosis of photoreceptor cells, the effect is correlated, to a certain degree, with the status of the apoptosis occurrence.