Effect of acupuncture on neurovascular units after cerebral infarction in rats through PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of acupuncture on neurovascular units after cerebral infarction (CI) in rats through the phosphatidylinositol 3-hydroxy kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) signaling pathway. METHODS: A total of 36 Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into sham group (n = 12), model group (n = 12) and acupuncture group (n = 12). The external carotid artery was only exposed in model group, while the post-CI ischemia-reperfusion model was established using the suture method in the other 2 groups. After modeling, the rats in sham group and model group were fixed and sampled, while those in acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture intervention for 2 weeks and sampled. The neurological deficits of rats were evaluated using the Zea-Longa score, and the spatial learning and memory of rats were detected via water maze test. Moreover, the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), growth associated protein-43 (GAP-43) and synuclein (SYN) in brain tissues were detected via immunohistochemistry, and the relative protein expressions of PI3K p85, PI3K p110 and p-AKT were detected via Western blotting. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions of VEGF, GAP-43 and SYN were detected via quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS: The Zea-Longa score was significantly increased in model group and acupuncture group compared with that in sham group (p < 0.05), while it significantly declined in acupuncture group compared with that in model group (p < 0.05). The escape latency was significantly prolonged and the times of crossing platform were significantly reduced in model group and acupuncture group compared with those in sham group (p < 0.05), while the escape latency was significantly shortened and the times of crossing platform were significantly increased in acupuncture group compared with those in model group (p < 0.05). The positive expressions of VEGF, GAP-43 and SYN were obviously increased in model group and acupuncture group compared with those in sham group (p < 0.05), while they were obviously increased in acupuncture group compared with those in model group (p < 0.05). Besides, model group and acupuncture group had significantly higher relative protein expressions of PI3K p85, PI3K p110 and p-AKT than sham group (p < 0.05), while acupuncture group also had significantly higher relative protein expressions of PI3K p85, PI3K p110 and p-AKT than model group (p < 0.05). The relative mRNA expressions of VEGF, GAP-43 and SYN were remarkably increased in model group and acupuncture group compared with those in sham group (p < 0.05), while they were remarkably increased in acupuncture group compared with those in model group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture promotes the repair of neurovascular units after CI in rats through activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, thereby exerting a protective effect on neurovascular units.