Electro-Acupuncture at GV.4 Improves Functional Recovery in paralyzed rats after a Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

In the present study, the effect of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the oxidative stress, the spinal cord tissue preservation and the recovery of motor function was evaluated after a traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI). Long Evans rats were randomized into five groups: 1. Sham; 2. TSCI without treatment; 3. TSCI + EA (acupoint GV.4); 4. TSCI + EA (acupoint GV.26) and 5.TSCI + EA (GV.4 + GV.26). The EA was performed with an Electro-Acupunctoscope, AWQ-104L Digital, wave dense-dispersed, current intensity 2.5mA and frequency 2-100Hz for 30 minutes. The biochemical results showed a significant increase in the hydroxyl radical concentration in group 2 (3.1 ± 1.4 nmol) compared with groups 1 (1.8 ± 0.5 nmol) and 4 (2.4 ± 1.1 nmol) (p< 0.05), whereas in group 4 (4.8 ± 1.8 nmol), there was a significant increase in lipid peroxidation when compared with group 1 (1.7 ± 0.5 nmol) (p < 0.05). The BBB motor function score in the paralyzed hind limbs (normal BBB = 21points) was greater in groups 3 (15.2 points) and 5 (13.5 points) in comparison with groups 2 (11.4 points) and 4 (9.3 points) (p < 0.05). The quantity of preserved spinal cord tissue was greater in group 3 (6582.7± 20 μm2) than in groups 2 (5262.4 20 μm2), 4 (3995.6 ± 26μm2) and 5 (4266.7± 22 μm2). Although EA in GV.26 decreases hydroxyl radical concentration (50%), it significantly increases lipid peroxidation (45%), while stimulation of GV.4 decreases oxidative stress (15%), preserves spinal cord tissue (25%) and improves recovery of motor function in the hind limbs of rats with paralysis (18.1%) compared with untreated group. These findings suggest that EA in GV.4 may be a therapeutic alternative on TSCI.