Effects of decompression joint Governor Vessel electro-acupuncture on rats with acute upper cervical spinal cord injury

Neural Regeneration Research, 2018 · DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.235062 · Published: July 1, 2018

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cells

Simple Explanation

This study investigates the effects of Governor Vessel electroacupuncture (EA) combined with decompression on rats with acute upper cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The researchers compared early (12 hours) versus delayed (48 hours) decompression combined with EA. Rat models of SCI were created by compressing the upper cervical spinal cord for 12 or 48 hours before decompression. EA was administered at specific acupoints for 14 days. The study found that EA combined with decompression, especially delayed decompression, improved hind limb motor function recovery. EA also reduced platelet-activating factor levels and caspase-9 protein expression, suggesting it can improve the spinal cord microenvironment and inhibit cell apoptosis.

Study Duration

14 consecutive days

Participants

42 female Wistar rats

Evidence Level

Animal study

Key Findings

1
Hind limb motor function recovery was superior after decompression for 12 and 48 hours combined with electroacupuncture compared to decompression alone.
2
Platelet-activating factor levels were significantly reduced in rats receiving electroacupuncture compared with decompression alone.
3
Caspase-9 protein expression was significantly reduced in rats receiving electroacupuncture compared with decompression alone.

Research Summary

This study evaluated the effect of Governor Vessel electroacupuncture (EA) combined with early or delayed decompression on acute upper cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. The results indicated that EA combined with delayed decompression (48 hours) was more effective in treating upper cervical SCI compared to decompression alone. EA combined with early decompression (12 hours) accelerated nerve movement recovery in rats with upper cervical SCI, but further studies are needed to determine if it provides additional benefits compared to early decompression alone.

Practical Implications

Adjunctive Therapy Potential

Governor Vessel electroacupuncture may serve as an effective adjunctive therapy for acute upper cervical spinal cord injury.

Optimized Treatment Strategy

Combining Governor Vessel electroacupuncture with delayed decompression may lead to better outcomes in treating this type of injury.

Microenvironment Improvement

Electroacupuncture can improve the microenvironment of the injured spinal cord by reducing platelet-activating factor levels and caspase-9 protein expression.

Study Limitations

1
Small sample size, which may have increased error bias and influenced the results.
2
The mechanism of secondary injury includes not only changes in the microenvironment of the spinal cord and apoptosis, but also the axonal regeneration barrier.
3
Our follow-up studies will assess different factors associated with acute upper cervical SCI.

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