| Objective: To explore the anti inflammatory effect of acupuncture at Baihui and Sishengcong on MCAO model rats by observing the pathological changes of brain tissue and the expression level of IL 1, IL 6 and TNF α in penumbra tissues in MCAO rats. Methods: Sixty SPF SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (n= 15) and model group (n=45) by the stratified random sampling method. After successful replication of the model, model group rats were randomly divided into non acupoint control subgroup and acupuncture subgroup. The acupuncture subgroup was given the acupuncture at Baihui and SishenConong, and the non acupoint control subgroup was treated with acupuncture skin intervention at 5 mm around the acupoint area. At 1 h after the last acupuncture, the scores of nerve function defect were evaluated; the rats were killed, the pathological changes were observed under a microscope, and the contents of IL 1, IL 6 and TNF α in ischemic penumbra tissues were measured. Results: After intervention, the scores of nerve function defect in non acupoint control subgroup were significantly higher than in acupuncture subgroup (P<0.01), and those in acupuncture subgroup were significantly higher than in sham operation group (P<0.01). The pathological sections of the brain tissue in the sham operation group had no abnormal changes, the infarction focus was localized in the acupuncture subgroup, and the number of inflammatory cells around the infarction focus was significantly less in acupuncture subgroup than in non acupoint control subgroup. The contents of IL 1, IL 6 and TNF α in ischemic penumbra tissues of non acupoint control subgroup and acupuncture subgroup were significantly increased as compared with those in sham operation group (all P<0.01), and those in acupuncture subgroup were significantly decreased as compared with those in non acupoint control sbugroup (P<0.01). Conclusion: Acupuncture at Baihui and SiShenCong can significantly reduce the neurological deficit score, the percentage of infarction, the degree of inflammatory infiltration and the contents of cytokines in the penumbra brain tissues of MCAO model rats, which has certain anti inflammatory effect. |
