Electroacupuncture attenuates oxidative stress in random skin flaps in rats

Skin flaps may be damaged by free radicals produced during blood reflow and oxygen return to ischemic tissues. Considering that published studies have demonstrated the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) in attenuating the oxidative stress in different tissues and organs, this study aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of MA and EA in randomized skin flaps in rats.

Thirty-two rats were subjected to dorsal skin flap (8 × 2.5 cm) construction and randomly divided into four groups of eight rats each: G1, surgical trauma; G2, MA; G3, EA 3 Hz; and G4, EA 100 Hz. All rats were anesthetized with ketamine (90 mg/kg) + xylazine (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally on days 1, 3, and 7. MA (G2) and EA (G3/G4) were applied on days 3 and 7 of the experiment. G3 and G4 rats were treated with EA 3 and 100 Hz, respectively. Needles were inserted in GV-14 (Dazhui), GV-2 (Yaoshu), and L-13 (Zhangmen) acupoints and retained for 30 min. Blood and skin samples were collected at the end of the last procedure. The ANOVA/Dunnett test was used for group comparison. Values of p < 0.05 were considered significant.

Skin myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity decreased significantly in G2, G3, and G4 rats. Plasma and skin levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) increased significantly in G3 and G4 rats (p < 0.001) compared with G1 control. Malondialdehyde (MDA) plasma and skin levels increased significantly in G4 compared with G1 rats.

MA/EA decreased MPO activity in the graft, consistent with attenuated inflammation, and increased plasma and tissue GSH, indicative of reduced systemic and local oxidative stress. EA at 100 Hz enhances lipid peroxidation in plasma and skin of rats subjected to surgical stress.

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