Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2018, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (6): 1013-1018.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.233444

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Catgut implantation at acupoints increases the expression of glutamate aspartate transporter and glial glutamate transporter-1 in the brain of rats with spasticity after stroke

Rui-Qing Li1, Ming-Yue Wan2, Jing Shi2, Hui-Ling Wang2, Fei-Lai Liu1, Cheng-Mei Liu1, Jin Huang2, Ren-Chao Liu2, Le Ma3, Xiao-Dong Feng1   

  1. 1 Rehabilitation Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
    2 Major in Rehabilitation Medicine and Physiotherapy, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
    3 Department of Oncology, Third People’s Hospital of Luoyang, Luoyang, Henan Province, China
  • Received:2018-05-15 Online:2018-06-15 Published:2018-06-15
  • Contact: Xiao-Dong Feng, M.D., Ph.D.,13733165164@163.com
  • Supported by:

    This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 14202225, &. 81574042; the Traditional Chinese Medicine Leading Talent Funding Projects of Henan Province of China, No. 2000202; a grant from the Special Research Project on the Construction of the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Research Base of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine of China, No. JDZX2015314.

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Abstract:

Catgut implantation at acupoints has been shown to alleviate spasticity after stroke in rats. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we used the rat middle cerebral artery occlusion model of stroke. Three days after surgery, absorbable surgical catgut sutures were implanted at Dazhui (GV14), Jizhong (GV6), Houhui, Guanyuan (CV4) and Zhongwan (CV12). The Zea Longa score was used to assess neurological function. The Modified Ashworth Scale was used to evaluate muscle tension. The 2,3,5-triphenyl-tetrazolium chloride assay was used to measure infarct volume. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for glutamate aspartate transporter (GLAST) and glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) expression. Western blot assay was used to analyze the expression of GLAST and GLT-1. Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction were carried out to assess the expression of GLAST and GLT-1 mRNAs. After catgut implantation at the acupoints, neurological function was substantially improved, muscle tension was decreased, and infarct volume was reduced in rats with spasticity after stroke. Furthermore, the expression of GLAST and GLT-1 mRNAs was increased on the injured (left) side. Our findings demonstrate that catgut implantation at acupoints alleviates spasticity after stroke, likely by increasing the expression of GLAST and GLT-1.

Key words: nerve regeneration, stroke, Dazhui (GV14), Jizhong (GV6), Houhui, Guanyuan (CV4), Zhongwan (CV12), catgut implantation at acupoints, limb spasm, glutamate transporter, neural regeneration