Effects of Electroacupuncture Jiaji Acupoint on the Protein Expression of Cav-1 and p38 MAPK in Nucleus Pulposus Cells of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration in Rabbits
Objective To observe the effects of electroacupuncture Jiaji acupoint on the expression of caveolin 1(Cav-1)and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK)protein in the nucleus pulposus cells of rabbits with lum-bar intervertebral disc degeneration(IDD)and to investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture in delaying the aging of the nucleus pulposus cells of IDD.Methods A total of 25 male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into normal group,sham model group,model group,model+electroacupuncture group and model+sham electroacupuncture group,with 5 rabbits in each by random number table method.The L4-L5 intervertebral disc was pressurized with 200 N pressure for 28 days.Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)was used to determine whether the model was successfully established.Rabbits in the normal group were fed naturally without any intervention;the rabbits in the model group without receiving any treatment after the model was successfully established by pressurizing the L4-L5 intervertebral discs for 28 days;in the sham model group,on the basis of molding method in the model group,the compression device and Kirschner wire were retained,but the vertebral compression and intervention treatment were not completed;in the model+electroacupuncture group,on the basis of the treatment in the model group,the rabbits were treated with bilateral L4-L5 Jiaji electroacupuncture from the first day after successful modeling,the intensity of electroacupuncture was 1-2 mA,with 20 min each time,once a day,6 days as a course of treatment,and each course was 1 day apart,totally 4 courses;in the model+sham electroacupuncture group and model+electroacupuncture group,electroacupuncture was connected after acupuncture at Jiaji acupoint,but no electricity was connected.After the end of the experimental period,the general condition and MRI lower disc signal strength were observed,and the Pfirrmann scoring was performed,the protein ex-pression of Cav-1 and p38 MAPK in intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus cells were detected by Western blot.Results Compared with the normal group,the general condition of the sham model group was obviously alleviated and improved,the difference of intervertebral disc signal under MRI was small;the general condition of the rabbits in the model group was worse,and the signal of the intervertebral disc under MRI was low and black;the general condition of the rabbits in the model+electroacupuncture group was significantly improved,and the signal of the intervertebral disc under MRI was enhanced to gray-white,and the texture was more uniform;the general condition of the rabbits in the model+sham electroacupuncture group was poor,and there was no significant improvement,the intervertebral disc un-der MRI showed gray-black,and there was no significant improvement in signal.Compared with the rabbits in normal group,there were no significant differences in the Pfirrmann score of intervertebral disc,the protein expressions of Cav-1 and p38 MAPK in the nucleus pulposus cells of intervertebral disc in the sham model group(P＞0.05),and the Pfir-rmann score of intervertebral disc,the protein expressions of Cav-1 and p38 MAPK in the nucleus pulposus cells of inter-vertebral disc significantly increased in the model group(all P＜0.05);compared with the rabbits in model group and the model+sham electroacupuncture group,the Pfirrmann score of intervertebral disc,the protein expression of Cav-1 and p38 MAPK in the nucleus pulposus cells of intervertebral disc in the model+electroacupuncture group significantly de-creased(all P＜0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture may delay IDD due to nucleus pulposus aging by down-regulating protein expressions of Cav-1 and p38 MAPK in nucleus pulposus cells of intervertebral disc.
Electroacupuncture Jiaji acupointCaveolin 1p38 mitogen-activated protein kinaseIntervertebral disc degenerationCellular senescence
NETL
NSTL
万方数据
