Objectives: To observe the effect of motion-style scalp acupuncture (MSSA) on H-reflex in rats with post-stroke spasticity (PSS), so as to explore the electrophysiological mechanisms of MSSA against spasticity.
Methods: A total of 36 male SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation, model and MSSA groups, with 12 rats in each group. The stroke model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. After modeling, rats in the MSSA group were treated by scalp acupuncture (manipulated every 15 min, 200 r/min) at ipsilesional "parietal and temporal anterior oblique line" (MS6) for a total of 30 min, the treadmill training (10 m/min) was applied during the needling retention, once daily for consecutive 7 days. The neurological deficits, muscle tone and motor function were assessed by Zea Longa score, modified modified Ashworth scale (MMAS) score and screen test score before and after treatment, respectively. The H-reflex of spastic muscle was recorded by electrophysiological recordings and the frequency dependent depression (FDD) of H-reflex was also recorded. The cerebral infarction volume was evaluated by TTC staining.
Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the Zea longa score, MMAS score, cerebral infarction volume, motion threshold, Hmax/Mmax ratio and FDD of H-reflex were significantly increased (P<0.01), while the screen test score was significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. Intriguingly, compared with the model group, the above results were all reversed (P<0.01) in the MSSA group.
Conclusions: MSSA could exert satisfactory anti-spastic effects in rats with PSS, the underlying mechanism may be related to the improvement of nerve function injury, the reduction of spastic muscle movement threshold, Hmax/Mmax ratio and H-reflex FDD.
目的: 观察运动头针法对卒中后痉挛（PSS）大鼠H-反射变化的影响，探讨运动头针法抗PSS的电生理机制。方法: 雄性SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组和运动头针组，每组12只。采用改良线栓法制备大鼠大脑中动脉闭塞模型。运动头针组予以患侧“顶颞前斜线”头针治疗，留针期间配合跑步机训练，30 min/次，1次/d，连续治疗7 d。分别于治疗前后采用Zea Longa评分、修订的改良Ashworth痉挛量表（MMAS）评分、网屏实验评测各组大鼠的神经功能损伤、肌张力及运动功能的变化；应用生物功能实验系统记录仪记录痉挛肌H-反射的变化，记录治疗后的H-反射频率依赖性抑制（FDD）的变化；TTC染色法观察大鼠脑梗死体积。结果: 治疗后与假手术组比较，模型组大鼠Zea Longa评分、MMAS评分、脑梗死体积、运动阈值、Hmax/Mmax比值及H-反射FDD均显著升高（P<0.01），网屏实验评分显著降低（P<0.01）。与模型组比较，运动头针组以上各指标均呈相反结果（P<0.01）。结论: 运动头针法能够发挥较好的抗PSS效应，其潜在机制可能与改善神经功能损伤，降低痉挛肌运动阈值、Hmax/Mmax比值及H-反射FDD有关。.
Keywords: Acupuncture technique; Electrophysiology; H-reflex; Motion-style scalp acupuncture; Post-stroke spasticity.