[Mechanism of "" acupuncture for the opening of ATP sensitive potassium channel against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats].

Objective: To observe the mechanism of "" acupuncture for the opening of ATP sensitive potassium channel (K) against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury in rats.

Methods: Eighty-four rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a model group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group, an EA+K blocker group, 21 rats in each group. 10 μL intracerebral injection with glipizide (1 μmol/5 μL) was used in the EA+K blocker group. The cerebral ischemia reperfusion model was established by Zea Longa's suture method in the model group, the EA group and the EA+K blocker group. Rats in the sham-operation group were received the same surgery but without nylon filament insertion. Acupuncture (20 min a time) was performed at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Shuigou" (GV 26) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) in the EA group and the EA+K blocker group at 10:00 and 16:00 for 3 days, firstly 90 min after model establishment. EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1 mA) was connected at the affected "Neiguan" (PC 6) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6). The same fixation was used in the sham-operation group and the model group, without EA. Neurological function was assessed by Zausinger's neurologic assessment scale. 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to detect infarct volume. Neurocyte apoptosis in the hippocampus was detected by flow cytometry and the protein expressions of B lymphocytoma-2 gene (Bcl-2) and B cell lymphoma factor-associated X protein (Bax) were measured by Western-blot.

Results: In comparison with the model group, the neurological score of the EA group increased (<0.01); the infarction volume and the hippocampal neuron's total apoptosis rate of the EA group decreased (both <0.05); the protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax of the EA group increased (<0.05, <0.01); and the protein expression of Bax of the EA group decreased (<0.01). Compared with the EA group, the neurological score of the EA+K blocker group decreased (<0.05); the total apoptosis rate of hippocampus neurons of the EA+K blocker group increased (<0.05); the expression of Bcl-2 protein of the EA+K blocker group reduced (<0.05); the expression of Bax protein of the EA+K blocker group increased (<0.05).

Conclusion: "" acupuncture has brain protective effect on rats with focal cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury. The mechanism may be related to regulating the opening of K channels and decreasing the apoptosis of neurons.