Acupuncture ameliorates neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by regulating the opening of large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channels

Abstract

Acupuncture has a good effect on improving neurological function after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, but there are few studies on the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture from the perspective of ion channel cellular electrophysiology. Studies have shown that the over activation of large-conductance Ca2+-activated potassium channel （BKCa） after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion can reduce the excitability of neurons and induce apoptosis. This study intends to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model, with acupuncture at GV26 as the intervention measure, using patch-clamp technique to record the electrophysiological changes of BKCa channel. The results showed that the neurological function score of MCAO/R rats was significantly decreased, and the conductance, open dwell time and open probability of BKCa channel in hippocampal CA1 neurons of MCAO/R rats were significantly increased. Acupuncture at GV26 could significantly improve the neurological function scores of MCAO/R rats, and reduce the conductance, open dwell time, and open probability of BKCa channel. The effect of acupuncture at GV26 was significantly better than acupuncture at non-acupuncture point. The neuroprotective effect of acupuncture at GV26 after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion may be related to regulating the electrophysiological characteristics of BKCa channel opening.