Foraminal Electroacupuncture in induced spinal cord injury in mice.
This is a mouse study, so no immediate application for electroacupuncture in humans EXCEPT, for my particular practice. I will explain. When I was an anesthesiologist, a particulary useful technique on difficult to administer epidurals was to take a paramedian approach. I’ve often wondered if that would be more effective for acupuncture patients with neck and back pain too. This study leads me to believe that it would. It’s a relatively easy tecnique once you get the hang of it. One inch lateral and one inch down from the intravertebral space and angle towards the space.
Acupuncture for back pain here.
This study looked at whether ultrasound-guided foraminal electroacupuncture can help rats recover after spinal cord injury (SCI) and how it might work on a cellular level. Thirty-six rats were divided into three groups: one had surgery without injury (sham group), one had a spinal cord injury (model group), and one had the injury plus electroacupuncture treatment. The electroacupuncture was done under ultrasound guidance at the T9/T10 and T10/T11 spinal openings, using low and high frequency currents (2/100 Hz) for stimulation. Researchers tested the rats’ movement ability and hindlimb strength on several days after injury. They also examined spinal cord tissue and blood samples to measure inflammation, neuron death, and changes in certain molecular signals.
The rats that received electroacupuncture showed better movement recovery, stronger hindlimbs, and healthier spinal cord tissue compared to untreated injured rats. Their spinal cords had fewer dying neurons and less inflammation. Blood levels of inflammatory molecules (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) were lower. On a molecular level, electroacupuncture increased the activity of protective proteins (Wnt-4, β-catenin, Bcl-2, NeuN) and reduced harmful ones (c-Myc, Bax) linked to cell death.
In summary, ultrasound-guided foraminal electroacupuncture improved nerve and motor recovery after SCI in rats. The treatment may work by activating the Wnt-4/β-catenin pathway, reducing inflammation, and preventing neuron death—suggesting a potential new approach for spinal cord injury repair.
Abstract Electroacupuncture for Spinal Cord Injury
Objective: To observe the effects of ultrasound-guided foraminal electroacupuncture on neuronal apoptosis and motor function in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to explore the potential underlying mechanisms.
Methods: Thirty-six SPF-grade Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to a sham operation group, a model group, and an ultrasound-guilded electroacupuncture group (electroacupuncture group), with 12 rats in each group. In the sham operation group, the spinal cord was exposed and then the incision was sutured without contusion. In the other two groups, SCI models were established using a modified Allen’s impact method. On days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after modeling, the electroacupuncture group received electroacupuncture intervention at the T9/T10 and T10/T11 intervertebral foramen under ultrasound guidance, avoiding spinal cord injury. Stimulation parameters were dense-disperse wave at 2 Hz/100 Hz and 1-2 mA for each session. Following interventions on days 1, 3, 7, and 14, the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) score was assessed; the inclined plane test was used to assess hindlimb grip strength in rats. After the intervention, HE staining was used to observe spinal cord morphology; TUNEL staining was used to detect neuronal apoptosis; ELISA was used to measure the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α); Western blot was used to analyze the protein expression of Wnt-4, β-catenin, c-Myc, Bax, Bcl-2, and NeuN in spinal tissue; quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of Wnt-4, β-catenin, c-Myc, Bax, Bcl-2, and NeuN.
Results: Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed significantly reduced BBB scores (P<0.05), and reduced inclined plane angles (P<0.05) at all time points. Compared with the model group, the electroacupuncture group exhibited increased BBB scores on days 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05), and higher inclined plane angles on days 1, 3, 7, and 14 (P<0.05). Compared with the sham operation group, the model group showed disorganized spinal cord structure with increased inflammatory cells and necrotic neurons, higher number of apoptotic neurons in spinal tissue (P<0.05), elevated serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels (P<0.05), increased protein and mRNA expression of Wnt-4, β-catenin, c-Myc, and Bax (P<0.05), and decreased protein and mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and NeuN in spinal tissue (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the electroacupuncture group had fewer inflammatory cells and apoptotic neurons in spinal tissue (P<0.05), reduced serum IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α levels (P<0.05), increased protein and mRNA expression of Wnt-4, β-catenin, Bcl-2, and NeuN (P<0.05), and decreased protein and mRNA expression of c-Myc and Bax in spinal tissue (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided foraminal electroacupuncture could improve motor function in rats with SCI, potentially by regulating the expression of molecules related to the Wnt-4/β-catenin signaling pathway to inhibit neuronal apoptosis and inflammatory responses.