Electroacupuncture at Zusanli （ST36） Accelerates Intracerebral Hemorrhage-Induced Angiogenesis in Rats

Objective： To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture on intracerebral hemorrhage （ICH）- induced angiogenesis and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 a （HIF-1 a） expression in rats. Me.otis： Adult male Sprague- Dawley rats were randomly divided into 4 groups of 24 rats each. ICH was induced in 3 groups by stereotactic injection of collagenase type Ⅶ into the right globus pallidus; of these, one group was not further treated, the second group underwent Zusanli （ST36）-acupuncture, and the third group underwent non-acupoint acupuncture. ＇The fourth group underwent sham operations. Acupuncture was performed by stimulation with electrical needles at frequencies of 2-20 Hz for 30 min per day. Angiogenesis on days 3, 7 and 14 was assessed by double iimmunolabeling, and expression of HIF-1 α was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real time reverse chain reaction and Westem blotting. Results： 5-Bromo-2-deoxyuddine （BrdU）labeled nuclei in cerebral endothelial cells （ECs） resided around the hematoma and the labeling peaked from 7 to 14 days （P〈0.01）. HIF-1 a positive microvessels with a dilated outline were detected in pedhematomal tissues after ICH, with the vessels extending into the clot from the surrounding area beginning on day 7. Following ICH, HIF-1 a protein levels increased （P〈0.05）, but HIF-1 a mRNA levels did not change. Electro-acupuncture at the Zusanli （ST36） acupoint increased BrdU-labeled nuclei in cerebral ECs （P〈0.05） and up-regulated the expression of HIF-1 a protein （P〈0.05）, but had little effect on the spatial distribution of HIF-1α or on HIF-1α mRNA levels. Conclusions： Electro-acupuncture treatment at the Zusanli （ST36） acupoint may accelerate ICH-induced angiogenesis by up-regulating HIF-1 a protein, and may enhance recovery following hemorrhagic cerebral injury.