Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1-2
pubmed:dateCreated
2002-12-13
pubmed:abstractText
Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used in China for many years to treat Parkinson's disease (PD) with reportedly effective results. However, the physiological and biological mechanism behind its effectiveness is still unknown. In the present study, different frequencies of chronic EA stimulation (0, 2, 100 Hz) were tested in a partially lesioned rat model of PD which was induced by transection of the medial forebrain bundle (MFB). After 24 sessions of EA stimulation (28 days after MFB transection), dopaminergic neurons in the ventral midbrain were examined by immunohistochemical staining, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA levels in ventral midbrain were measured by in situ hybridization. The results show a marked decrease of dopaminergic neurons on the lesioned side of the substantia nigra (SN) comparing with the unlesioned side. Zero Hz and 2 Hz EA stimulation had no effect on the disappearance of dopaminergic neurons. However, after 100 Hz EA, about 60% of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons remained on the lesioned side of the SN. In addition, levels of BDNF mRNA in the SN and ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the lesioned side were significantly increased in the 100 Hz EA group, but unchanged in the 0 and 2 Hz groups. Our results suggest that long-term high-frequency EA is effective in halting the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the SN and up-regulating the levels of BDNF mRNA in the subfields of the ventral midbrain. Activation of endogenous neurotrophins by EA may be involved in the regeneration of the injured dopaminergic neurons, which may underlie the effectiveness of EA in the treatment of PD.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Dec
pubmed:issn
0169-328X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
108
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
51-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Animals, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Axotomy, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-China, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Disease Models, Animal, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Dopamine, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Electroacupuncture, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Female, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Humans, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-In Situ Hybridization, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Medial Forebrain Bundle, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Neurons, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Parkinson Disease, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-RNA, Messenger, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Random Allocation, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Rats, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Substantia Nigra, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Up-Regulation, pubmed-meshheading:12480178-Ventral Tegmental Area
pubmed:year
2002
pubmed:articleTitle
Long-term high-frequency electro-acupuncture stimulation prevents neuronal degeneration and up-regulates BDNF mRNA in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area following medial forebrain bundle axotomy.
pubmed:affiliation
Neuroscience Research Institute, Peking University, 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083, PR China.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't