A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.
Research Article
* These authors contributed equally
This protocol describes motion-style scalp acupuncture in a rat model of post-stroke spasticity and demonstrates its evaluation using behavioral, magnetic resonance imaging, histological, and electrophysiological assessments to investigate changes in external capsule microstructure and spinal reflex excitability.
Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) severely impairs motor function and quality of life after stroke. Disruption of the cortico-reticulospinal pathway and impaired supraspinal descending inhibition are considered important pathological mechanisms; however, the neural and microstructural mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of motion-style scalp acupuncture (MSSA) remain incompletely understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of MSSA on PSS using a multimodal assessment integrating neuroimaging, electrophysiology, and histology in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify cerebral infarct volume, and diffusion tensor imaging was used to evaluate the microstructural integrity of the external capsule white matter. Luxol Fast Blue (LFB) staining assessed myelin integrity within the external capsule, while H-reflex recordings evaluated spinal reflex excitability. Correlation analyses were performed to examine the relationships among infarct volume, white matter microstructure, spinal reflex excitability, and spasticity severity. MSSA reduced cerebral infarct volume, alleviated external capsule microstructural damage, and attenuated demyelination. In addition, MSSA improved abnormal H-reflex parameters, normalized spinal reflex excitability, and reduced spasticity. Correlation analyses showed that larger infarcts were associated with greater external capsule injury, whereas better-preserved white matter integrity was associated with improved spinal reflex regulation and less severe spasticity. These findings suggest that MSSA may alleviate PSS by reducing ischemic brain injury, preserving external capsule microstructural integrity, and improving cortico-reticulospinal pathway-associated descending inhibitory function, providing preclinical evidence supporting its therapeutic application.
Post-stroke spasticity (PSS) is a prevalent and disabling sequela of ischemic stroke, clinically defined by velocity- and length-dependent increases in muscle tone. This condition often leads to abnormal limb posture and dysfunctional movement patterns, severely compromising patients’ motor independence and quality of life while imposing substantial economic and caregiver burdens worldwide1,2. As a typical manifestation of upper motor neuron syndrome, the pathogenesis of PSS is primarily attributed to exaggerated hyperexcitability of spinal stretch reflexes. Accumulating neuroanatomical and neurophysiolo....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Forty adult male Specific Pathogen-Free (SPF) Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats, weighing 240–280 g, were purchased from Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology [License No.: SCXK (Jing) 2021-0011]. All rats were housed in the Laboratory Animal Center of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine under controlled conditions, with a room temperature of 23°C ± 1°C, relative humidity of 50% ± 5%, and a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle, with free access to food and water. The rats were acclimatized for 5 days, during which treadmill exercise acclimation training was performed simultaneously. Animals underwent treadmill acclimation once daily at a spe....
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
MSSA Ameliorates Neurological Functional Deficits
Two-way repeated-measures ANOVA revealed significant main effects of time (F[2.613, 62.71] = 315.3, p < 0.001) and group (F[2, 24] = 142.9, p < 0.001), as well as a significant time × group interaction (F[12, 144] = 99.94, p < 0.001) for the Zea Longa neurological scores. One day before surgery, all rats in the sham-operated, model, and MSSA groups had a Zea Longa score of 0, indicating intac.......
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
From the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine, PSS falls into the category of muscle-tendon disorders, with a core pathogenesis described as cerebral injury being the root cause and limb spasticity the superficial manifestation20. Therapeutic strategies should therefore address both the primary cerebral lesion and the secondary peripheral manifestations21. The rationale underlying MSSA emphasizes holistic regulation from the ischemic brain to the spastic limbs, with .......
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
Conflict of Interest:
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82405579).
....Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
| Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| α-Chloralose | GoldBio | C-118-250 | Anesthetic for H-reflex recordings |
| Absolute Ethanol | Beijing Tong Guang Fine Chemicals Co., Ltd. | VS104021-500 mL | Histological reagent |
| Acupuncture Needles (0.25 × 13 mm) | Beijing Zhongyan Taihe Acupuncture Needle Co., Ltd. | NA | Disposable sterile needles for scalp acupuncture |
| Ampicillin | Beijing Rui Da Heng Hui Technology Development Co., Ltd. | HD-3018-500g | Antibiotic for postoperative infection prophylaxis |
| Biological Function Experiment System (BL420N) | Chengdu Taimeng Technology Co., Ltd. | NA | Electrophysiological recording system |
| Diffusion Tensor Imaging Analysis Software (ParaVision 360) | Bruker | NA | MRI acquisition and DTI reconstruction |
| Eco-Friendly Dewaxing and Clearing Solution | Servicebio | G1128-500ML | Histological reagent |
| Fully Automatic Rotary Microtome | Leica Microsystems | RM2255 | Tissue sectioning |
| Heating Pad | Suzhou Caiyang Electric Heating Technology Co., Ltd. | TT180×150-1XD | Postoperative temperature maintenance |
| ImageJ 6.0 | National Institutes of Health | NA | Quantitative image analysis |
| Isoflurane | Beijing Solarbio Science & Technology Co., Ltd. | I8000-25g | Inhalation anesthetic |
| ITK-SNAP 4.4.0 | University of Pennsylvania | NA | Cerebral infarct segmentation |
| Luxol Fast Blue Solution | Servicebio | G1030-100ML | Myelin staining |
| Monofilament Nylon Suture (0.36 ± 0.02 mm) | Beijing Cinontech Co., Ltd. | NA | MCAO induction |
| Paraformaldehyde (4% in PBS) | Servicebio | TBAB0102 | Tissue fixation |
| PharmaScan 7.0 T Magnetic Resonance Scanner | Bruker | NA | MRI acquisition |
| SPSS Statistics 20.0 | IBM | NA | Statistical analysis |
| Sprague–Dawley Rats (SPF, male) | Beijing Vital River Laboratory Animal Technology Co., Ltd. | NA | Experimental animals |
| Thermostatically Controlled Water Bath System | Shanghai Zhixin Experimental Instrument Technology Co., Ltd. | ZX-5A | Temperature maintenance during MRI |
| Treadmill for Rodents | Clever | TreadScan | Exercise training during acclimation and MSSA |
Access restricted. Please log in or start a trial to view this content.
This article has been published
Video Coming Soon