BMC Neuroscience (Dec 2023)

Effects of electroacupuncture on imaging and behavior in rats with ischemic stroke through miR-212-5p

  • Sisi Li,
  • Xiangxin Xing,
  • Xuyun Hua,
  • Yuwen Zhang,
  • Jiajia Wu,
  • Chunlei Shan,
  • Mouxiong Zheng,
  • He Wang,
  • Jianguang Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-023-00827-y
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 24, no. 1
pp. 1 – 12

Abstract

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Abstract Background Ischemic stroke is a serious disease leading to significant disability in humans worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that some microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke. A key role for MiR-212 has been found in neuronal function and synaptic plasticity. Ischemic stroke can be effectively treated with electroacupuncture (EA); however, there is a lack of understanding of the relevant mechanisms. In this study, we employed behavioral test and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to detect behavioral and brain function alterations in rats suffering from ischemic stroke. The efficacy of EA therapy and miR-212-5p’s role in this process were also evaluated. Methods and results Forty rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R), MCAO/R + EA, MCAO/R + EA + antagomir-negative control and MCAO/R + EA + antagomir-212-5p groups. Behavioral changes were assessed by Catwalk gait analysis prior to and after modeling. Rs-fMRI was performed at one week after EA treatment, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated to reveal neural activity. Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis in the ischemic penumbra was analyzed using a TUNEL assay. Treatment with EA significantly improved the performance of rats in the behavioral test. The motor and cognition-related brain regions showed decreased ALFF and ReHo following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and EA treatment could reactivate these brain regions. Moreover, EA treatment significantly decreased MCAO/R-induced cell death. However, the transfection of antagomir-212-5p attenuated the therapeutic effect of EA. Conclusions In conclusion, the results suggested that EA improved the behavioral and imaging outcomes of ischemic stroke through miR-212-5p.

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