Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of cluster needling of scalp acupuncture combined with treadmill training on axonal regeneration and expression of S-100 protein in rats with sciatic nerve injury. Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank group, sham group, model group, treadmill group and cluster needling of scalp point combined with treadmill group (combination group), each group was further divided into 7, 14 and 21 days subgroups, with 6 rats in each subgroup. The sciatic nerve of rats was clamped in the model group, the treadmill group and the combination group. The sham group was subjected to the same surgical procedure with sciatic nerve exposure but without crush injury. Three days after modeling, the treadmill group was treated with treadmill training, and the combination group was treated with cluster needling of scalp acupuncture and treadmill training, while the other groups were grabbed regularly, with no other intervention. The sciatic functional index (SFI) was tested, the condition of axon growth was observed with HE staining, and the expression of S-100 protein was examined with immunohistochemistry at each time point. Results At each time point, SFI was higher, the axon grew better, and the S-100 protein was higher expressed in the treadmill group and the combination group than in the model group (P<0.05), especially in the combination group (P<0.05). Conclusion Cluster needling of scalp acupuncture combined with treadmill training can accelerate the regeneration of axons and increase the expression of S-100 protein and improve sciatic function after sciatic nerve injury.

Key words: sciatic nerve injury, cluster needling of scalp acupuncture, treadmill training, S-100 protein, sciatic functional index