ObjectiveTo explore the effect of electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints on motor behaviors, the axonal integrity and nerve bundle of motor cortex and striatum in rat model of ischemic stroke induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). MethodsThirty-six adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to sham operation group (sham group), ischemia control group (model group) and electroacupuncture treatment group (EA group) with twelve rats in each group. The later two groups were occluded their middle cerebral arteries for two hours. Twenty-four hours after modeling, EA group received electroacupuncture at Quchi (LI11) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints on the paralyzed limb, once a day, for 14 days. They were assessed with modified Neurological Severity Scores (mNSS) and Rota-rod test, and scanned with small animal magnetic resonance imaging system for T2-weighted image (T2WI) and DTI, the infarct size, related fractional anisotropy (rFA) and related number of tracks of motor cortex and striatum were recorded. ResultsCompared with the sham group, the score of mNSS increased in the model group and EA group after modeling, and was lower in EA group than in the model group seven days and 14 days after intervention (P<0.05). Rota-rod test showed that the retention time was significantly longer in EA group than in the model group (P<0.05). T2WI showed that the infarct size was smaller in EA group than in the model group (P<0.05). DTI showed that rFA in motor cortex and striatum was higher in EA group than in the model group (P<0.05), as well as the related number of tracks (P<0.05) in motor cortex. ConclusionElectroacupuncture at Quchi and Zusanli acupoints could improve the motor function in rats with ischemic stroke, which may be related to the recovery of nerve bundle of motor cortex and striatum in ischemic side.
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