[Effect of electroacupuncture on expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and glial fibrillary acidic protein in subventricular zone of Parkinson's disease rats].Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2012 Aug; 37(4):286-90.ZC
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of Parkinson's disease (PD) rats, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying improvement of PD.
METHODS
Eighteen SD rats were randomized into normal control, model and EA groups (6 rats/group). PD model was duplicated by microinjection of 6-hydroxydopamine (2.5 microg/microL, 6 microL) containing 0.02% antiscorbic acid into the right medial forebrain bundle region (P: -4. 0, L: 0.8, H: 8.0). On the 7th day after modeling, EA (100 Hz) was applied to bilateral "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 30 min, once a day for 21 days. The expression levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), GFAP and PCNA in the right SVZ tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.
RESULTS
TH expression was strong in the normal control group, but no TH expression was found in the model and EA groups. In comparison with the normal control group, the expression levels of PCNA and GFAP proteins and the number of PCNA-IR-positive cells in the right SVZ were decreased significantly in the model group (P < 0.01); while compared with the model group, the expression levels of PCNA and GFAP proteins and the number of PCNA-IR-positive cells in the right SVZ were up-regulated considerably in the EA group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION
EA can up-regulate the expression of PCNA and GFAP proteins in the SVZ in PD rats without changes of TH expression, which may contribute to its effect in improving clinical symptoms of PD.