Tail Nerve Electrical Stimulation and Electro-Acupuncture Can Protect Spinal Motor Neurons and Alleviate Muscle Atrophy after Spinal Cord Transection in Rats

Neural Plasticity, 2017 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/7351238 · Published: June 28, 2017

Spinal Cord Injury Alternative Medicine Neurology

Simple Explanation

This study explores how stimulating nerves in the tail (TANES) or using electroacupuncture (EA) can help protect nerve cells in the spine and reduce muscle wasting after a spinal cord injury in rats. The researchers found that both TANES and EA treatments significantly helped the rats' motor neurons survive and lessened muscle loss in their hind legs after the spinal cord injury. The treatments also increased the amount of a protein called neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the spinal cord, which appears to protect the motor neurons and reduce muscle atrophy.

Study Duration

4 weeks

Participants

72 adult female Sprague-Dawley rats

Evidence Level

Level II: Animal Study

Key Findings

1
TANES and EA treatments significantly promoted the survival of lumbar motor neurons in rats after spinal cord transection.
2
Both TANES and EA treatments increased the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), an enzyme crucial for acetylcholine synthesis, in the lumbar spinal cord.
3
TANES and EA treatments augmented the expression of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) in the lumbar spinal cord, suggesting a neuroprotective mechanism.

Research Summary

This study investigated the effects of tail nerve electrical stimulation (TANES) and electroacupuncture (EA) on lumbar motor neurons and hindlimb muscle in spinal transected rats. The results showed that both TANES and EA treatments had a significant impact on promoting the survival of lumbar motor neurons, increasing the expression of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), and ameliorating atrophy of hindlimb muscle after spinal cord injury (SCI). The findings suggest that TANES and EA can augment the expression of NT-3 in the lumbar spinal cord, which appears to protect the motor neurons as well as alleviate muscle atrophy.

Practical Implications

Therapeutic Potential

TANES and EA treatments could be further explored as potential strategies for treating complex neurological maladies, particularly those involving spinal cord injury and muscle atrophy.

Neuroprotection Mechanism

The study highlights the role of NT-3 and ChAT in the neuroprotective effects of TANES and EA, providing insights into potential therapeutic targets.

Clinical Translation

The experimental evidence supports the effectiveness of EA intervention treatment on the recovery of nerve injury diseases in clinical practice, suggesting potential for human trials.

Study Limitations

1
The study was conducted on rats, and the results may not be directly applicable to humans.
2
The exact mechanisms underlying the effects of TANES and EA are not fully understood and require further investigation.
3
The long-term effects of TANES and EA treatments on spinal cord injury and muscle atrophy were not assessed in this study.

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