Acupuncture at Baihui and Dazhui reduces brain cell apoptosis in heroin readdicts

作者：Hou Xiaorong; Zhang Rongjun; Lv Hang; Cai Xinghui; Xie Guangchuan; Song Xiaoge^*

来源：Neural Regeneration Research, 2014, 9(2): 164-170.

DOI：10.4103/1673-5374.125345

• nerve regeneration
• traditional Chinese medicine
• acupuncture
• heroin readdiction
• brain injury
• ultrastructure
• Bcl-2
• Bax
• apoptosis
• neuroprotection
• NSFC grant
• neural regeneration

Acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Dazhui (GV14) reduces neuronal loss and attenuates ultrastructural damage in cerebral ischemic rats. However, whether acupuncture can treat addiction and prevent readdiction through changes to brain cell ultrastructure remains unknown. In this study, cell apoptosis was observed in the hippocampus and frontal lobe of heroin readdicted rats by electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining displayed a reduction in Bcl-2 expression and an increase in Ban expression in the hippocampus and frontal lobe. After rats were given acupuncture at Baihui and Dazhui, the pathological damage in the hippocampus and frontal lobe was significantly reduced, Bcl-2 expression was upregulated and Ban expression was downregulated. Acupuncture exerted a similar effect with methadone, a commonly used drug for clinical treatment of drug addiction. Experimental findings suggest that acupuncture at Dazhui and Baihui can prevent brain cell apoptosis in heroin readdicted rats.

• 出版日期2014-1
• 单位安徽中医药大学