Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2002 Apr; 22(4): 295-7.

[Effect of electro-acupuncture on calcium content in neurocytes of focal cerebral ischemia]

Xu NG, Yi W, Lai XS.

College of Acupuncture and Massage, Guangzhou TCM University, Guangzhou 510405.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) in regulating calcium (Ca2+) content in brain neurocytes of rats with focal cerebral ischemia. METHODS: The changes of Ca2+ content in ischemic neurocytes were observed by using laser confocal scanning microscope. RESULTS: Ca2+ content did not change significantly in cerebral cortex when the brain ischemia occurred for 1 hr, but it raised significantly in striatum neurocytes. Both the Ca2+ contents in striatum and cortex area increased significantly 3 hrs after ischemia occurrence and the content in striatum was higher than that in cortex significantly. Brain Ca2+ content could be reduced significantly after the 3 hrs ischemic brain were treated by EA for 30 min. CONCLUSION: EA could regulate the content of Ca2+ in the ischemic area of brain, inhibit Ca2+ overload, so as to protect neurons from ischemic injury.