Effect of electrode configuration in electroacupuncture on ischemic stroke treatment in rats

Chung-Hsiang Liu; Huong Thi Mai Nguyen; Der-Yen Lee; Ching-Liang Hsieh

doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.09.003

Effect of electrode configuration in electroacupuncture on ischemic stroke treatment in rats

J Tradit Complement Med. 2023 Sep 20;13(6):588-599. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.09.003. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Chung-Hsiang Liu¹, Huong Thi Mai Nguyen², Der-Yen Lee³, Ching-Liang Hsieh^{2

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Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁴ Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
⁵ Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Abstract

Background and aim: This study investigated the effect of the electrode configuration on EA treating ischemic stroke.

Experimental procedure: An ischemic stroke rat model was established. In the EA-P group, the anodes of EA were placed on the BL7 and BL8 acupoints of the lesioned, and the cathodes were placed on the BL7 and BL8 acupoints of the nonlesioned hemispheres; by contrast, in the EA-N group.

Results: The difference in neurological deficit scores between the first and fourth days and the difference in Rotarod test time between the fourth and first days after reperfusion were greater in the EA-P and EA-N groups than in the sham group (all p < 0.001). In the lesioned hemisphere, neuronal nuclei (NeuN), γ-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA)-A, postsynaptic density 95 (PSD95), and astrocyte glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1) expression and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2)/glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) ratios were greater and the glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP)/GADPH ratios were smaller in the EA-P than in the sham group (all p < 0.05), but these ratios in the EA-N group were similar to those in the sham group (all p > 0.05); serum adrenaline and serotonin levels in the sham group were lower than those in the normal and EA-P groups (both p < 0.05), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) glutamate levels were higher in the EA-P group than in the sham group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: EA improved neurological function through multiple pathways. However, placing the anode on the lesioned hemisphere can provide more neuroprotection.

Keywords: Electroacupuncture; Electrode configuration; Ischemic stroke; Neuroprotection.