Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on Caspase-9, cytochrome C (Cyt-C) and apoptotic protease activating factor 1 (Apaf-1) protein in rats with neurogenic bladder after complete spinal cord injury. Methods A total of 60 female Sprague-Dawley rats were involved, in which 36 rats were randomly selected to establish the neurogenic bladder model with T₁₀ spinal cord transected. 24 successful models selected were randomly divided into model group (n=12) and electroacupuncture group (n=12). The other 24 rats were also randomly divided into sham group (n=12) and blank group (n=12). The electroacupuncture group was electroacupunctured on Ciliao (BL32), Zhongji (RN3), Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Dazhui (GV14) for seven days. All of them were assessed with urodynamic test, TUNEL method was used to determine the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord, and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein. Results Compared with the blank group and the sham group, the maximum bladder capacity and compliance decreased (P<0.01), the urinary bladder pressure and leakage point pressure increased (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord increased (P<0.001); the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein increased (P<0.05) in the model group and the electroacupuncture group. Compared with the model group, the maximum bladder capacity and compliance increased (P<0.01), the urinary bladder pressure and leakage point pressure decreased (P<0.05); the apoptosis rate of the spinal cord decreased (P<0.05); the expression of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein decreased (P<0.05) in the electroacupuncture group. Conclusion Electroacupuncture on Ciliao, Zhongji, Sanyinjiao and Dazhui could improve the bladder function after spinal cord injury in rats. The mechanisms may be related with the down-regulation of Caspase-9, Cyt-C and Apaf-1 protein to reduce apoptosis.

Key words: spinal cord injury, neurogenic bladder, electroacupuncture, Caspase-9, cytochrome C, apoptotic protease activating factor 1, apoptosis, rats