TY - JOUR
T1 - Electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) Repairs Interstitial Cells of Cajal and Upregulates c-Kit Expression in Rats with SCI-Induced Neurogenic Bowel Dysfunction
AU - Yang, Yujie
AU - Cheng, Jie
AU - Zhang, Yongni
AU - Guo, Jiabao
AU - Xie, Bin
AU - Zhang, Wenyi
AU - Zhu, Zhaojin
AU - Zhu, Yi
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - Background. Electroacupuncture (EA) could improve colonic transit activity in rats with neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). The function of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and c-Kit expression may play essential roles in this process. Material and Methods. Thirty-six Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to the sham group, the SCI group, or the SCI + EA group (bilateral Zusanli, 30 min/day, 14 days). Changes in the ultrastructural morphology of ICCs were observed. The c-Kit expression on different levels was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results. Abnormal morphology of ICCs and downregulation of the c-Kit expression occurred after SCI. While the number of ICCs was increased, the ultrastructural morphology was improved significantly in EA rats. They also showed better improvement in c-Kit expression at both protein and gene levels. Conclusion. Abnormal ICCs in colon tissues and the downregulated expression of c-Kit could be observed after SCI. EA at Zusanli (ST36) could improve the colon function by repairing the morphology and increasing the number of ICCs and upregulating c-Kit expression.
AB - Background. Electroacupuncture (EA) could improve colonic transit activity in rats with neurogenic bowel dysfunction (NBD) caused by spinal cord injury (SCI). The function of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and c-Kit expression may play essential roles in this process. Material and Methods. Thirty-six Sprague Dawley rats were randomized to the sham group, the SCI group, or the SCI + EA group (bilateral Zusanli, 30 min/day, 14 days). Changes in the ultrastructural morphology of ICCs were observed. The c-Kit expression on different levels was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR, respectively. Results. Abnormal morphology of ICCs and downregulation of the c-Kit expression occurred after SCI. While the number of ICCs was increased, the ultrastructural morphology was improved significantly in EA rats. They also showed better improvement in c-Kit expression at both protein and gene levels. Conclusion. Abnormal ICCs in colon tissues and the downregulated expression of c-Kit could be observed after SCI. EA at Zusanli (ST36) could improve the colon function by repairing the morphology and increasing the number of ICCs and upregulating c-Kit expression.
KW - SPINAL-CORD-INJURY
KW - ENTERIC NERVOUS-SYSTEM
KW - HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY
KW - HIGH-FREQUENCY
KW - SLOW WAVES
KW - CONSTIPATION
KW - MANAGEMENT
KW - TRANSIT
KW - COLON
KW - NEUROTRANSMISSION
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85102481175&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=WOS&KeyUT=000598379200002
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85102481175&origin=recordpage
U2 - 10.1155/2020/8896123
DO - 10.1155/2020/8896123
M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal
C2 - 33293999
SN - 1741-427X
VL - 2020
JO - Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
JF - Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
M1 - 8896123
ER -