Abstract:

Objective To discuss the effect of head acupuncture on the neurological function and the expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor （HIF）-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 （VEGFR2） in the brain tissue of rats with focal cerebral ischemia， and to clarify the related mechanism. Methods The modified middle cerebral artery occlusion（MCAO） method was used to prepare the focal cerebral ischemia rat models.Twenty successfully modeling rats were randomly divided into model group and treatment group， and there were 10 rats in each group；another 10 SD rats were selected as sham operation group.The rats in treatment group were treated with scalp acupuncture. The neurological function scores of the rats in various groups were recorded and the model was verified； Morris water maze test was used to detect the learning and memory functions of the rats in various groups； enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA） method was used to detect the level of HIF-1α in serum and brain tissue of the rats in various groups；Western blotting method was used to detect the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGFR2 proteins in brain tissue of the rats in various groups. Results The neurological function scores detection results showed that there was no neurological deficit of the rats in sham operation group； compared with sham operation group， the neurological function scores of the rats in model group and treatment group were increased （P<0.05）. The Morris water maze test results showed that compared with sham operation group， the time to find the platform of the rats in model group was increased （P<0.05）； compared with model group， the time to find the platform of the rats in treatment group was decreased （P<0.05）. The ELISA results showed that compared with sham operation group， the levels of HIF-1α in serum and brain tissue of the rats in model group were increased （P<0.05）；compared with model group， the levels of HIF-1α in serum and brain tissue of the rats in treatment group were increased （P<0.05）. The Western blotting results showed that compared with sham operation group， the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGFR2 proteins in brain tissue of the rats in model group were increased （P<0.05）； compared with model group， the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGFR2 proteins in brain tissue of the rats in treatment group were increased （P<0.05）. Conclusion The head acupuncture may restore the function of brain tissue in the rats with focal cerebral ischemia and up-regulate the levels of HIF-1α and VEGFR2 in brain tissue of the rats， and its related mechanism may be related to activating the HIF/VEGFR2 angiogenesis pathway.

Key words: Head needle, Hypoxia-inducing factor, Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, Focal cerebral ischemia, Ischemic stroke