【Animal Modeling】-Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture combined with methylprednisolone on intervertebral disc herniation in rats

  Objective: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture combined with methylprednisolone and electroacupuncture or methylprednisolone alone on the motor function of the limbs and the Nissl bodies of the nerve cells in the rat model 24 hours after the intervertebral disc herniation, so as to provide a basis for reasonable clinical application.

  Methods: 112 SD rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham), model group (Model), pre-electroacupuncture combined with methylprednisolone group (EA+MP), electroacupuncture group (EA) and methylprednisolone group ( MP), the self-made silicone gasket compression method was used to prepare the intervertebral disc herniation model, and each group was treated separately, and the BBB limb motor function score was performed at different time points or the spinal cord tissue was collected by Nissl staining to observe the changes in the Nissl body of the nerve cells and the side effects And mortality rate.

  Results: 1) The BBB scores showed an upward trend in each group after treatment. The compressed hind limbs of the EA+MP group increased significantly on the 3rd and 7th days compared with the EA and MP groups (P<0.05), on the 14th day Each group was significantly higher than the Model group (P<0.05), and="" was="" close="" to="" the="" sham="" group="" p="">0.05). (2) Nissl staining showed that the damage of nerve cells in each treatment group was less than that of the model group, and the Nissl body The number is large, and the EA+MP group is better than the other two groups. (3) The incidence of side effects is 30% in the MP group, 4.16% in the EA+MP group, and 0 in the EA group; the mortality rate is 20% in the MP group, and EA +0 for the MP group and EA group.

  Conclusion: The three treatments can increase the number of Nissl bodies in varying degrees, maintain the morphology of nerve cells, and improve the limb motor function of rats with intervertebral disc prolapse for 24 hours (exceeding the methylprednisolone action time window). Among them, EA+MP has the best effect. , And significantly reduce the side effects and mortality of MP therapy, and it is better than the efficacy of EA alone.