Electroacupuncture promotes the repair of the damaged spinal cord in mice by mediating neurocan-perineuronal net

This study investigates how electroacupuncture (EA) can help repair spinal cord injuries (SCI) in mice. It focuses on the role of perineuronal nets (PNNs), which are structures around nerve cells, and a protein called neurocan (NCAN) within these nets. The researchers found that after a spinal cord injury, the PNNs and the amount of neurocan decrease. By using EA, they could increase the level of neurocan, which in turn improved the activity of specific nerve cells (PV-IN) and helped with functional recovery. The study suggests that EA promotes spinal cord repair by increasing neurocan levels in PNNs, which then regulates the activity of PV-IN nerve cells, ultimately leading to improved motor and sensory functions.

• 1
  Spinal cord injury leads to a reduction in PNN core glycan protein expression at the injury epicenter.
• 2
  Overexpression of neurocan in the injured spinal cord enhances local PV-IN activity and promotes functional repair.
• 3
  Electroacupuncture reverses the down-regulation of neurocan and enhances PNN expression in the lesioned area, primary motor cortex (M1), and primary sensory cortex of lower extremity (S1HL).