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2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (11): 1728-1733Electroacupuncture promotes facial nerve regeneration in a rat model of facial nerve crushFei Jing1, Tao Meihui2, Li Leiji1
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The mechanism of electroacupuncture to promote facial nerve regeneration is unknown. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) are a type of cytokines that can promote revascularization and increase vascular permeability. OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture on peripheral facial paralysis induced by crush injury of the buccal facial nerve in Sprague-Dawley rats, and to explore the role of VEGF/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in the above process. METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group (8 rats), a model group (24 rats) and an electroacupuncture group (24 rats). The facial nerve crush injury models were established in the model and the electroacupuncture groups. Rats in the electroacupuncture group then received electroacupuncture treatment at the right “Jiache” and “Dicang” acupoints every day after the operation. At 4, 14, and 28 days after the operation, the symptoms of facial paralysis in the rats of each group were recorded and scored. The morphology and Nissl body changes of facial motoneurons were observed. The expression site and intensity of VEGF as well as the expression levels of VEGF, ERK, and p-ERK proteins in facial motoneurons were measured. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The improvement of facial paralysis in the model group was not as obvious as that in the electroacupuncture group, and the behavioral scores were lower than those in the electroacupuncture group at all time points. The morphological recovery of facial motoneurons and Nissl bodies in the electroacupuncture group was earlier and more complete than that in the model group. The protein expressions of VEGF at all time points in the electroacupuncture group were higher than those in the normal and model groups. The expression of p-ERK in the electroacupuncture group was higher than that in the model group, and began to be higher than that in the normal group at 14 days after operation. To conclude, electroacupuncture can up-regulate the expression of VEGF in facial motoneurons and promote the recovery of peripheral facial paralysis caused by crush injury. The mechanism may be related to the activation of MAPK/ERK signaling pathway and the protective effect on facial motoneurons. Key words:electroacupuncture, facial motoneuron, Jiache, Dicang, vascular endothelial growth factor, signaling pathway, rat |