Effects of electroacupuncture on imaging and behavior in rats with ischemic stroke through miR-212-5p

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is a serious disease leading to significant disability in humans worldwide.

Increasing evidence suggests that some microRNAs (miRNAs) participate in the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke.

A key role for MiR-212 has been found in neuronal function and synaptic plasticity.

Ischemic stroke can be effectively treated with electroacupuncture (EA); however, there is a lack of understanding of the relevant mechanisms.

In this study, we employed behavioral test and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) to detect behavioral and brain function alterations in rats suffering from ischemic stroke.

The efficacy of EA therapy and miR-212-5p’s role in this process were also evaluated.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty rats were randomly divided into the following groups: Sham, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R), MCAO/R + EA, MCAO/R + EA + antagomir-negative control and MCAO/R + EA + antagomir-212-5p groups.

Behavioral changes were assessed by Catwalk gait analysis prior to and after modeling.

Rs-fMRI was performed at one week after EA treatment, amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were calculated to reveal neural activity.

Furthermore, neuronal apoptosis in the ischemic penumbra was analyzed using a TUNEL assay.

Treatment with EA significantly improved the performance of rats in the behavioral test.

The motor and cognition-related brain regions showed decreased ALFF and ReHo following focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, and EA treatment could reactivate these brain regions.

Moreover, EA treatment significantly decreased MCAO/R-induced cell death.

However, the transfection of antagomir-212-5p attenuated the therapeutic effect of EA.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results suggested that EA improved the behavioral and imaging outcomes of ischemic stroke through miR-212-5p.