Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (1): 159-164.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.150727

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Therapeutic effects of different durations of acupuncture on rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion

Chao Zhang 1, Yan Wen 2, Xiao-nong Fan 3, 4, 5, 6, Guang Tian 1, Xue-yi Zhou 2, Shi-zhe Deng 2, Zhi-hong Meng 1, *   

  1. 1 First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
    2 Post-graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
    3 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Research Institute of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
    4 Key Laboratory of Cerebropathy Acupuncture Therapy of State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
    5 Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Science, Tianjin, China
    6 Three-level Laboratory of Acupuncture Dose-Effect Relationship, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
  • Received:2014-07-15 Online:2015-01-15 Published:2015-01-15
  • Contact: Zhi-hong Meng, yj1988mzh@163.com.
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by a grant from the National Program on Key Basic Research Project (973 Program), No. 2010CB530506.

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Abstract:

Acupuncture is regarded as an effective therapy for cerebral ischemia. Different acupuncture manipulations and durations may result in different therapeutic effects. In the present study, the Neiguan (PC6) acupoint of rats with occluded middle cerebral arteries was needled at a fixed frequency (3 Hz) with different durations, i.e., 5, 60 and 180 seconds under a twisting-rotating acupuncture method. Results showed that different durations of acupuncture had different therapeutic effects, with 60 seconds yielding a better therapeutic effect than the other two groups. This duration of treatment demonstrated rapid cerebral blood flow, encouraging recovery of neurological function, and small cerebral infarct volume. Experimental findings indicated that under 3 Hz frequency, the treatment of needling Neiguan for 60 seconds is effective for ischemic stroke.

Key words: nerve regeneration, middle cerebral artery occlusion, manipulation, Neiguan, cerebral infarction volume, twisting-rotating method, duration, frequency, cerebral blood flow, neural regeneration