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Cited by 32Acupuncture Treatment Research StudiesBarrier Structure and Function StudiesAcute Ischemic Stroke Management

Electroacupuncture: A New Approach to Open the Blood–brain Barrier in Rats Recovering from Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion

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Zhang, Jiangsong, Lin, Xianming, Zhou, Hui, Chen, Yuanyuan, Xiao, Shuangkai, Jiao, Junyue, Zhao, Yibin, Di, Zhong·2018·Acupuncture in Medicine
DOI 10.1136/acupmed-2017-011496PMC PMC6287560
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Abstract

Objective: To examine for an opening effect on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in intact rats and rats with experimental ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) during the recovery period after various electroacupuncture (EA) treatments with different time courses, and to determine whether there is a time-dependent effect. An additional objective was to determine whether this method could induce the penetration of nerve growth factor (NGF) through the BBB. Methods: A middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was first established. We chose different stimulation time courses and observed the effects of EA treatment (100 Hz frequency; 2 mA intensity) at GV20 and GV26 on the BBB in rats recovering from MCAO 3 weeks after modelling. The rats were injected with 2% Evans blue (EB) saline. The brain water content was measured using a wet/dry weighing method. The degree of penetration of EB was detected using spectrophotometry and laser confocal microscopy. The rats were then injected with NGF, and the concentration of NGF in the brain tissues was measured using ELISA. Results: The increase in the BBB permeability was most notable following the 8 min EA stimulation (P<0.05), which may be advantageous for the targeted delivery of drugs (such as NGF) into the brain. Additionally, this effect did not appear to cause brain oedema (P>0.05) in healthy or MCAO rats. Conclusions: EA treatment for a certain stimulation time at GV20 and GV26 in MCAO rats can increase BBB permeability.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Zhang, J., Lin, X., Zhou, H., Chen, Y., Xiao, S., Jiao, J., Zhao, Y., & Di, Z.
Affiliations
  • Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (CN)
  • The Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, Hangzhou, China
ORCID
Venue
Acupuncture in Medicine
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2018-12
Volume
36
Issue
6
Pages
377-385
ISSN
  • 0964-5284 (ISSN-L)
  • 1759-9873
DOI
10.1136/acupmed-2017-011496
PMC
PMC6287560
OpenAlex
W2808540601
Cited by
32
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2018: 1
FWCI
1.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Acupuncture in Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
Funders
The National Natural Science Foundation of China
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Acute Ischemic Stroke Management
Keywords
electroacupuncture, blood-brain barrier permeability, middle cerebral artery occlusion, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, nerve growth factor, brain drug delivery, Baihui (GV20), brain oedema, stroke recovery
MeSH terms
Animals, Blood-Brain Barrier, Brain, Brain Edema, Capillary Permeability, Disease Models, Animal, Fluorescence, Male, Electroacupuncture, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery, Nerve Growth Factor, Rats

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