Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) mRNA and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein in brain tissue of rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion.Methods The focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model was established with filament occlusion. 90 rats were randomly divided into control group (n=6), model group (n=42) and electroacupuncture group (n=42). They were observed 2 h, 12 h, 24 h, 3 d, 7 d, 14 d, 21 d after ischemia/reperfusion, 6 rats in each points. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect the expression of VEGFR-2 mRNA. Immunohistology method was used to detect the expression of BDNF protein. Results The expression of VEGFR-2 mRNA was higher in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group 12 h, 24 h, 3 d after reperfusion (P<0.05). The expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus increased 2 h (P<0.05), reached peak 24 h (P<0.01) and still higher 3 d (P<0.05) in the electroacupuncture group than in the model group after reperfusion. Conclusion Electroacupuncture can upregulate the expression of VEGFR-2 mRNA and BDNF protein in brain tissue of rats with focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion. Neuro-angiogenic factor is possibly the molecular basis of coordinated interaction of the nervous and vascular system.

Key words: ischemia/reperfusion, neuro-angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, electroacupuncture, rats