Abstract: Objective To explore the effects of electrical acupuncture at Ciliao (BL32), Zhongji (RN03), Sanyinjiao (SP06) acupoints on the expression of caspase-3 in bladder tissue and the urodynamics of rats with neurogenic bladder (detrusor areflexia type) after sacral spinal cord injury. Methods 10 rats were randomly selected as blank control group from 40 female Sprague-Dawley rats. The other 30 rats were randomly divided into model group, acupoint group and control group after modeling, with 10 rats in each group. The urodynamics was measured on the 14th and 22nd day after modeling. The control group and acupoint group received electrical acupuncture 7 times at the acupoints and other points nearby, respectively, from the 15th day. The expression of caspase- 3 in bladder tissue was detected with enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) method. Results Compared with the model group, the maximum bladder capacity, bladder compliance and expression of caspase-3 in bladder tissue significantly decreased after treatment (P<0.01), the filling bladder pressure significantly increased (P<0.05) in the acupoint group. And the acupuncture group was better than the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Electrical acupuncture at Ciliao, Zhongji and Sanyinjiao can reduce the maximum bladder capacity in neurogenic bladder rats and inhabit the expression of caspase-3 in bladder tissue.

Key words: spinal cord injury, detrusor areflexia, electrical acupuncture, urodynamics, caspase-3, rats