【Animal Modeling】-Effects of electroacupuncture on synaptic plasticity and microglia polarization in rats with cerebral ischemia

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

  Methods A focal cerebral ischemia rat model was established by double ligation of the distal end of the external carotid artery with a thin thread for 60 min. The neurological deficit score was used to evaluate the preparation of the model. The successful model rats were divided into a model group, an electroacupuncture group and a nimodipine group. , while the sham-operated group was treated as a control. After 3 weeks of treatment, the neurological deficit score was used to evaluate the degree of brain injury in each group; 2, 3, 5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was used to determine the volume of cerebral infarction in each group; electron microscopy was used to observe the cerebral cortical process Ultrastructure and morphometric analysis; immunofluorescence staining to observe the polarization of cerebral cortical microglia; quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method to determine the level of miR-21 in the cerebral cortex of rats in each group; Western blotting method The levels of Janus protein tyrosine kinase 2 (JAK2), p-JAK2, STAT3 and p-STAT3 in the cerebral cortex of rats in each group were determined.

  Results Compared with the sham operation group, the neurological deficit score, the infarct volume, the number of M1-type microglia in the cerebral cortex, and the levels of miR-21, p-STAT3 and p-JAK2 in the model group were significantly increased (P<0 . 05), the number of M2-type microglia in the cerebral cortex, the number density of synapses (Nv), the density of synaptosomes (Vv), the density of synaptic junctions (Sv), the density of postsynaptic densities (PSD) , synaptic interface surface rate and synaptic cleft width were significantly decreased (P<0.05); compared with the model group, the neurological deficit score, cerebral infarction volume, M1-type microgum in the electroacupuncture group and nimodipine group were significantly reduced (P<0.05). The number of cytoplasmic cells, miR-21, p-STAT3, p-JAK2 levels were significantly decreased (P<0.05), the number of M2-type microglia, Nv, Vv, Sv, PSD, synaptic interface surface rate, synaptic Gap width was significantly increased (P<0.05).

  Conclusion Electroacupuncture can promote synaptic reconstruction in rats with focal cerebral ischemia and induce the polarization of microglia from M1 to M2 type.