| Objective:To study the action mechanism of the EA at jiaji points against lumbar disc degeneration.Methods:Thirty-six New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal group,sham operation group,model group and treatment group.The disc degenernation model was established by using the external dynamic compression device attached to the rabbit lumbar spine for 28 days.Treatment group was given the EA at jiajia point.For each group,the discs were examined radiographically,and double-labelling immunofluorescence was used to detect the expression of biglycan before operation,28th,and 56th day after operation.Result:At 28th day after operation,the expression of biglycan in model group and treatment group was significantly declined as compared with sham operation group(P<0.01 for all).At 56th day after operation,the expression of biglycan in treatment group was significantly increased compared to that at the 28th day after operation in model group and treatment group(P<0.05 for all).Conclusion:EA at jiaji(EX-B2) could protect the degenerated intervertebral discs through up-regulating the expression of biglycan,and correcting the imbalance between extracellular matrix synthesis and degradation. |
