Effect of electroacupuncture on neuronal programmed necrosis by regulating RIP1/RIP3/MLKL pathway in rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Quchi"(LI11) and "Zusanli"(ST36) in the rats with cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury and its influence on programmed necrosis of cerebral cortical neurons.

METHODS

Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, model group, EA group and inhibitor group, with 15 rats in each group. Left middle cerebral artery occlusion model was established using the modified thread embolism method. In the sham-operation group, the carotid artery was exposed and dissociated in each rat. EA was applied to "Quchi"(LI11) and "Zusanli"(ST36) on the right side for 30 min each time, once daily for 7 days in the rats of the EA group. The rats in the inhibitor group were intraperitoneally injected with norstatin-1 (0.6 mg/kg) for consecutive 7 days. The neurological deficit score of rats in each group was observed. HE staining was adopted to detect the degree of pathological damage of the cerebral cortex in the infarction area. Using TUNEL staining, the apoptosis of cortical neurons in the infarction area was determined；the contents of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were detected by ELISA；the mRNA and protein expression of the receptor interacting protein-1 (RIP1), the receptor interacting protein-3 (RIP3) and the substrate mixed lineage kinase like protein (MLKL) were detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTS

In comparison with the sham-operation group, the neurological deficit score in the model group was higher(P<0.01)；HE staining showed that there was the pathological damage in the infarction area；the neuron apoptosis rate, the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and the mRNA and protein expressions of RIP1, RIP3 and MLKL increased(P<0.01) in the model group. In the EA group, the neurological deficit score was reduced(P<0.01)；HE staining showed that the pathological damage was ameliorated in the infarction area；the neuron apoptosis rate, the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and the mRNA and protein expressions of RIP1, RIP3, MLKL decreased(P<0.05, P<0.01) when compared with those in the model group.

CONCLUSIONS

EA can attenuate cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury and display its neuroprotective effect probably through inhibiting programmed necrosis of cerebral cortical neurons in the rats.

[Effect of electroacupuncture of Governor Vessel on expression of GAD67 and GABA-T in cerebral cortex of rats with post-stroke limb spasticity]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of Governor Vessel (GV) on the expressions of glutamate decarboxylase 67 (GAD67) and γ-aminobutyric acid transaminase (GABA-T) in the cerebral cortex of rats with post-stroke limb spasticity, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of limb spasticity.

METHODS

Twenty four male SD rats were randomly and equally divided into control, sham operation, model, and EA groups. The cerebral ischemia model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO). EA (100 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to "Dazhui"(GV14), "Jizhong"(GV6) and "Houhui"( anteromedial of transverse process of the sixth lumbar vertebra) for 30 min, once daily for 7 consecutive days. The neurologic deficit score (0-5 points) was evaluated according to Zea Longa's method, and the muscular tension severity (0-5 points) was assessed according to the modified Ashworth muscle tone rating scale, and the tension signals of the quadriceps ferroris of the affected limb were recorded using tonotransducer and BL-420F electrophysiological recorder. The expression levels of GAD67 and GABA-T proteins and mRNAs in the cerebral cortex were detected by immunohistochemistry, fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot, separately.

RESULTS

After modeling, the neurological deficit score, muscle tone score, and the expression levels of GABA-T mRNA and protein in cerebral cortex were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05), tension signal value and the expression levels of GAD67 mRNA and protein in cerebral cortex were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in the model group relevant to the control and sham operation groups. Following the intervention, the neurological deficit score, muscle tone score, and expression levels of GABA-T mRNA and protein in cerebral cortex were significantly decreased (P<0.01), tension signal value and the expression levels of GAD67 mRNA and protein in cerebral cortex were significantly increased (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the EA group in contrast to the model group.

CONCLUSION

EA stimulation of Governor Vessel can ameliorate the limb spasticity symptom in MCAO rats, which may be associated with its functions in increasing the expressions of GAD67 protein and mRNA and inhibiting the expressions of GABA-T protein and mRNA, thereby playing the inhibitory role of GABA.

[Effects of organic manure partial substitution for chemical fertilizer on the photosynthetic rate, nitrogen use efficiency and yield of rice]

Rational application of organic fertilizers is an effective approach to improve soil fertility, crop yield, and zero growth of chemical fertilizer in agricultural production. The rice variety 'Shennong9816' was planted in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, under seven different treatments: zero nitrogen fertilizer (CK), low nitrogen, 150 kg·hm^-2(LN), medium nitrogen, 240 kg·hm^-2 (MN), high nitrogen, 330 kg·hm^-2(HN), medium nitrogen with replacement of chemical N by 10% organic manure (OMN₁₀), medium nitrogen with replacement of chemical N by 20% organic manure (OMN₂₀), and medium nitrogen with replacement of chemical N by 30% organic manure (OMN₃₀). The effects of different treatments on photosynthetic rate, nitrogen absorption, nitrogen use efficiency, and yield were examined and the optimal fertilization scheme was determined. The results showed that the photosynthetic rate, biomass and yield were increased with the increases of nitrogen application rate, while the nitrogen use efficiency was decreased significantly. Compared with the MN treatment, the photosynthetic rate of OMN₁₀ and OMN₂₀ in filling stage was increased by 22.9% and 9.9%, respectively. The yield of OMN₂₀ was increased by 3.8% compared to that of MN. The nitrogen agronomic efficiency and physiological efficiency of OMN₂₀ were significantly improved by 8.1% and 13.3%, respectively. Moreover, the nitrogen agronomic efficiency and physiological efficiency of OMN₂₀ were improved by 27.2% and 37.2% compared with the HN treatment. Thus, we concluded that the organic fertilizer replacement treatment could conserve soil fertility, achieve high yield and high nitrogen use efficiency, while reduce chemical nitrogen fertilizer application. The OMN₂₀ treatment was recommended as a fertilizer application model due to its superior performance among the seven treatments.

[Observation on the efficacy of female obesity complicated with climacteric syndrome treated by acupuncture and moxibustion]

OBJECTIVE

To observe the efficacy of acupuncture and moxibustion on female obesity complicated with climacteric syndrome and its impact factors.

METHODS

One hundred and fifty-one cases of female obesity complicated with climacteric syndrome were treated according to the basic principle as "pattern/syndrome differentiation". Accordingly, the reinforcing or reducing technique was applied at Quchi (LI 11), Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Daheng (SP 15), Zusanli (ST 36), Shangjuxu (ST 37), Sanyinjiao (SP 6), Neiting (ST 44), etc. The auricular point sticking was applied at Hunger Point, Ear-shenmen, Sympathetic Nerve, Endocrine and Stomach. The treatment was given once every two days. The duration of treatment was 3 months. The changes in the symptoms, physical signs, obesity index, Kupperman index, the vegetative equilibrium index (Value Y), estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTS

The obesity patients complicated with climacteric syndrome presented unusually high level of obesity index, Kupperman index and FSH levels and unusually low level of E2. After treatment, the obesity index, Kupperman index and FSH levels were all reduced significantly (all P < 0.01) while E2 level was increased significantly (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture and moxibustion achieve the significant efficacy on obesity complicated with climacteric syndrome, which is closely related with the pattern/syndrome of the disorder and obesity grade. For the effective and curative rate of obesity index, the efficacy of liver qi stagnation pattern/syndrome is better than that at liver stagnation and spleen deficiency pattern/syndrome than spleen and kidney yang deficiency pattern/syndrome than liver and kidney yin deficiency pattern/syndrome than yin and yang deficiency pattern/syndrome; the efficacy of mild obesity is better than that at moderate obesity than severe obesity.

[Overview of the two-way regulatory effect of acupuncture on gastrointestinal motility]

Relative literatures on the two-way regulatory eltect ot acupuncture on gastrointestInal muiiiity 01 inc recent 20 years were retrieVed in CNKI. Researches on effects of acupuncture on electrical activity of the gastric muscle, and mechanism of nerve and humor were summarized. And the result shows that the two-way regulatory effect of acupuncture on gastrointestinal motility function which eventually causes the recovery of gastrointestinal function, is a benign regulation reached by relative antagonism and inter-coordination of the neural, endocrine and immunity in all aspects. Meanwhile, the detailed conditions of the experiments are not strictly controlled, the intervention methods are not unanimous, the indices of observation are not unified, and the results are lack of scientificalness, regularity and corporeality. It is proposed that the future research should be carried out in the following 3 aspects, namely whether single points have the two-way regulatory effect or not; the application of single points in point prescriptions and the variety of quantity; and differences on the two-way regulatory effect and working processes between acupuncture and medication.

Experimental investigation on drag effect of sprinkler spray to adjacent horizontal natural smoke venting

Discharge rate of a horizontal adjacent smoke vent under sprinkler spray is experimentally investigated. Temperature of smoke layer and velocity of smoke venting were measured, under different sprinkler operating pressures and smoke venting areas. CO concentration at the smoke vent center and velocity of vent flow with fresh air outside were recorded in tests under different smoke venting conditions. Experimental results have shown that efficiency of smoke venting is controlled by a combination of smoke buoyancy and drag force of sprinkler spray. Only when buoyancy is greater than drag force the smoke could be extracted by venting. Velocity of smoke venting has shown to decrease as the operating pressure increases. Smoke venting logging, which represents the failure of smoke venting, was experimentally found from certain operating pressure called initial logging pressure. The CO concentration was found to increase after sprinkler was operated as the smoke is constrained in the spray region with horizontal momentum decreased. Negative pressure difference is caused at the vent when there is smoke venting logging, which might practically bring the exterior fresh air into the fire building. Additionally, experiments results have shown that the venting area has little influence on smoke flow under smoke venting logging.