Objective: To identify the intervention mechanism of the effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of Ang/Tie-2 mRNA and protein in rats with acute cerebral infarction induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO).
Methods: Altogether 120 Wistar rats were subjected to MCAO by inserting a nylon filament, and then divided into 3 groups: control group, injured group and electroacupuncture group. The injured and electroacupuncture groups were further divided into the following 7 subgroups according to the time after MCAO: 3, 6, 12, 24 h, 3, 7 and 12 d, with 8 rats in each subgroup. The electroacupuncture group was given electroacupuncture treatment at Shuigou (GV 26) instantly after operation. The rats were killed at different time points according to their groups, and then the expression levels of Ang/Tie-2 mRNA and protein were detected using Real-Time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical staining.
Results: The mRNA and protein expression levels of Ang/Tie-2 in the electroacupuncture group were significant higher than that in the injured group.
Conclusion: The results suggested that electroacupuncture could significantly regulate the expression of Ang/Tie-2 mRNA and protein in the rats with acute cerebral infarction induced by MCAO, and enhance angiogenesis after ischemic penumbra.
Keywords: Angiogenesis; Angiopoietins; Electroacupuncture; Infarction, middle cerebral artery; Point GV26 (Shuigou); Receptor, TIE-2.