• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.61-81
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• 2004

Background and Objective : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on the DCX, PSA-NCAM, and pCREB expression in the brain of spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR). Materials and Methods : SHR were divided into five groups: control group, acupuncture group, 2Hz electroacupuncture(EA) group and 100Hz EA group. We evaluated the changes of the DCX, PSA-NCAM, and pCREB positive cells using immunohistochemical method. In the olfactory bulb, we investigate the optical densities of the immunoactive cells. In the dentate gyrus and the piriform cortex, we count the immunoactive cells under the $100{\times}$ visual field optical microscope. Results : 1. The optical densities of DCX-positive cells in the subependymal zone were significantly decreased in all groups, compared to the control group. 2. The counts of DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus were significantly increased in all groups, compared to the control group. The counts of DCX-positive cells in the piriform cortex were significantly increased in the acupuncture and 100Hz EA group, compared to the control group. 3. The optical densities of PSA-NCAM-positive cells in the subependymal zone were significantly decreased in the acupuncture and 2Hz EA group, compared to the control group. 4. The counts of PSA-NCAM-positive cells in the dentate gyrus and the piriform cortex were significantly increased in all group, compared to the control group. 5. The counts of pCREB-positive cells in the dentate gyrus were significantly increased in all groups, compared to the control group. The counts of pCREB-positive cells in the piriform cortex were significantly increased in the acupuncture and 100Hz EA group, compared to the control group. Conclusion : We conclude that acupuncture and EA may affect neuronal cell proliferation, differentiation and plasticity in the brain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2003

Objective : This experimental in vitro study investigates the effects of electro acupuncture stimuli to the DCX and PSA-NCAM positive cells in the dentate gyrus of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods : We used immunohistochemical methods to observe the change of neuron cells, and then counts the immunoactive cells under the $100{\times}$ visual field optical microscope. Results : 1. The counts of DCX-positive cells in the dentate gyrus significantly increased in the 2Hz group versus control group. Otherwise 100Hz group did not have a significant differance. 2. The counts of PSA-NCAM-positive cells in the dentate gyrus rather decreased in the both 2Hz group and 100Hz group versus control group. Conclusions : We find out the electro acupuncture stimuli have some effects upon cerebral neuron cell in the dentate gyrus spontaneously hypertensive rats.