针刺对海洛因复吸大鼠脑神经细胞凋亡的影响

目的 观察针刺对海洛因复吸大鼠脑神经细胞凋亡的影响。方法 采用剂量递增法复制海洛因成瘾大鼠模型，将40只Wistar大鼠平均分成正常组、模型组、针刺组、药物组，于实验第39天取4组大鼠海马、中脑腹侧被盖区（ventral tegmental area, VTA）脑组织，光镜下观察神经细胞坏死情况，采用脱氧核糖核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法（terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling, TUNEL）检测脑神经细胞凋亡情况。结果 光镜下可见模型组大鼠脑海马、VTA神经细胞丢失、变性较严重，核溶解消失，神经细胞变性坏死及间质水肿明显，并可见筛状软化灶。针刺组未见明显筛状软化灶，神经细胞变性坏死及间质水肿程度较模型组、药物组减轻。针刺组神经细胞间质水肿较轻，未见明显筛状软化灶，神经细胞水肿坏死变性较少量。与正常组比较，模型组大鼠脑海马、VTA中TUNEL染色阳性细胞数显著增多（P<0.01）；与模型组、药物组比较，针刺组大鼠脑海马、VTA中TUNEL染色阳性细胞数显著减少（P<0.01）。结论 海洛因成瘾可致大鼠脑神经细胞凋亡，针刺“百会”、“大椎”穴可抑制神经细胞凋亡

Effect of Acupuncture on Apoptosis of Brain Nerve Cells in Heroin-Readdicted Rats

Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture on the apoptosis of brain nerve cells in heroin-readdicted rats. Methods Forty Wistar rats were equally divided into normal group, model group, acupuncture group, and medication group. A rat model of heroin addiction was induced using an escalating dose of heroin in the model group, acupuncture group, and medication group. Then, the four groups received respective treatments. Brain tissues were collected from the hippocampus and ventral tegmental area (VTA) on experimental day 39. The necrosis of nerve cells was observed under a light microscope, and the apoptosis of nerve cells was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results The light microscopy showed that severe loss and degeneration of nerve cells, karyolysis, obvious degeneration, necrosis, and intercellular edema of nerve cells, and reticular softening lesions were seen in the hippocampus and VTA in the model group; no obvious reticular softening lesions were seen in the acupuncture group, and the degeneration, necrosis, and intercellular edema of nerve cells were milder in the acupuncture group than in the model group and medication group. Compared with the normal group, the model group had a significantly increased number of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus and VTA (P<0.01). Compared with the model group and medication group, the acupuncture group had a significantly decreased number of TUNEL-positive cells in the hippocampus and VTA (P<0.01). Conclusion Heroin addiction causes the apoptosis of brain nerve cells in rats. Acupuncture at Baihui acupoint and Dazhui acupoint can inhibit the apoptosis of nerve cells.