Electroacupuncture rewires interhemispheric homotopic connectivity to promote motor recovery after ischemic stroke
Baokai Dou1,2, Xiangxin Xing3, Zexi Dou4
1Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
Objective:
To investigate electroacupuncture (EA)-induced reorganization of voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and its association with motor recovery in a rat model of ischemic stroke.
Methods:
Twenty-four female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into Sham group, stroke model group and EA group. The EA group received 1-week treatment (2/15 Hz sparse-dense wave, 2 mA, 30 min/day) at GV20. Neurological deficits were assessed using the modified neurological severity score. And resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging was acquired pre-post-intervention for VMHC analysis. Group differences and VMHC-behavior correlations were evaluated.
Results:
EA significantly increased VMHC in subcortical motor regions (p = 0.001, alphasim correction) but decreased VMHC in somatosensory cortex versus untreated stroke. Model group showed progressive VMHC reductions in hippocampus, hypothalamus, and somatosensory cortex. Enhanced internal capsule VMHC correlated with improved Longa scores in EA rats (r 2 = 0.206, p = 0.009).
Conclusion:
EA promotes motor recovery through frequency-specific bidirectional VMHC modulation. This study elucidates EA's inter-hemispheric connectivity level therapeutic mechanism for stroke rehabilitation.
Related Concept Videos
The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
The Eukaryotic Promoter Region
¹H NMR Chemical Shift Equivalence: Homotopic and Heterotopic Protons
Dietary Connections
Introduction to Connective Tissues
Classification of Connective Tissues
Connective Tissue Proper
Connective tissue proper is the most abundant class of connective tissues. As its name implies, it predominantly connects different tissues in the body. Depending on the cell types, ground substance, viscosity, and fiber types in the ECM, connective tissue proper is further categorized into loose and dense....


