【Animal Modeling】-Effects of Electroacupuncture on Synaptic Plasticity and Microglia Polarization in Rats with Cerebral Ischemia

  Objective: To study the synaptic plasticity and microglia polarization of electroacupuncture in rats with focal cerebral ischemia, and to detect the expression of miR-21/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway.

  Method: Double-ligate the distal end of the external carotid artery with a thin thread for 60 minutes to construct a rat model of local cerebral ischemia. The neurological deficit score is used to assess the preparation of the model. The successfully modeled rats were divided into model group and electroacupuncture. This group, nimodipine group, and sham operation group served as the control group at the same time. After three weeks of treatment, the neurological deficit score was used to evaluate the degree of brain damage in each group of rats. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to determine the cerebral cortex volume of rats in each group. Microscopic observation of the electronic process of the cerebral cortex; parallel morphometric analysis of the touch superstructure; immunofluorescence staining to observe the polarization of cerebral cortex microglia; real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR to determine the level of miR-21 in the rat cerebral cortex (qRT- PCR) method group; the levels of Janus protein tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2), p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3 in the cerebral cortex of rats in each Western blotting group were measured.

  Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological deficit score, infarct volume, number of cerebral cortex M1 microglia, miR-21, p-STAT3, and p-JAK2 levels in the model group were significantly increased (Pu003c0.05). ), the number of M2 type microglia cells in the cerebral cortex, synaptic surface number density (Nv), synaptic body density (Vv), synaptic connection surface density (Sv) and high postsynaptic significantly reduced density substances (PSD) , Synaptic interface surface velocity and synaptic gap width (Pu003c0.05); nerve defect score, cerebral infarction volume, electroacupuncture group significantly reduced M1 microglia count, miR-21, p-STAT3 compared with the model group And p-JAK2 level nimodipine group rats (Pu003c0.05), M2 type microglia count, Nv, Vv, Sv, PSD, synaptic interface surface velocity, synaptic cleft width increased significantly (Pu003c0.05) ).

  Conclusion: Electroacupuncture can promote synaptic remodeling in rats with focal cerebral ischemia, and induce microglia to polarize from M1 to M2.