[Effect of nape cluster-acupuncture treatment on brain microcirculation in ischemic stroke rats]

To observe the effect of nape cluster-acupuncture treatment on blood microcirculation of the cerebral piamater and the whole blood viscosity in cerebral ischemia (CI) rats so as to study its mechanism underlying improvement of CI.

Eighty male Wistar rats were randomly allocated to false operation group, CI model group, medication group and acupuncture group (n = 20). CI model was established by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery with intraluminal suture-ball blocking method. For rats of the nape cluster-acupuncture group, acupuncture needles were inserted into "Fengfu" (GV 16), "Yamen" (GV 15), "Xia-naohu" (GV 17), "Fengchi" (GB 20), and the points of evenly divided into three parts between GV 16 and GB 20 respectively, and rotated for 1 min, then retained for 15 min, once a day, for 14 sessions. Rats of the medication group were given with intragatric perfusion of nimodipine (12 mL/kg), once daily for 14 days. The blood microcirculation of the brain was detected by using a laser Doppler flowmeter with the probe put near the surface of cerebral piamater. The whole blood viscosity was determined using a blood rheological automatic detector.

In comparison with the false operation group, the blood flow volume of the cerebral piamater was remarkably decreased and the whole blood viscosity level significantly increased in the model group (P < 0.01). In comparison with the model group, the blood flow volume of the cerebral piamater was obviously increased and the whole blood viscosity apparently decreased in both the acupuncture and medication groups (P < 0.01). The effects of acupuncture were obviously better than those of the medication in upregulating blood flow volume and in lowering whole blood viscosity (P < 0.01).

The nape cluster acupuncture treatment has a favorable role in improving brain microcirculation by raising blood flow volume and reducing blood viscosity in ischemic stroke rats.