| Evidence Sentence: |
Pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture potentiates the expression of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in rat brains |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The expression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 is known to confer protective effects on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The current study investigated the expression levels of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 in response to multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at acupoints Zusanli (ST36) and Fengchi (GB20) stimulation. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 were found to be significantly increased in the ST36 groups with either 3 or 18 electro-acupuncture treatments (P < 0.05). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
In the GB20 groups, significant increase was only observed in transforming growth factor-beta 1 with 18 electro-acupuncture treatments (P < 0.05). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
No significant elevation of the level of transforming growth factor-beta 1 was observed in the non-acupoint groups. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The data suggest that multiple pre-ischemia electro-acupuncture at ST36 was effective in conferring neuroprotective effect on the brain by means of upregulation of Bcl-2 and transforming growth factor-beta 1 and the effect was increase with the number of treatment. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in the ischemic hemisphere of the brain |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 in the different groups is shown in Figure 1. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Transforming growth factor-beta 1 was not detected in the uninjured group. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
However, transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression was significantly higher in the ST36 group when compared to the other three groups (P < 0.05). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Similarly, after 18 applications of electro-acupuncture stimulation, the highest level of transforming growth factor-beta 1 was detected in the ST36 group. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
In addition, the GB20 group with the same treatment frequency also produced two-fold more transforming growth factor-beta 1 than the control group (P < 0.05). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Nevertheless, an increase in transforming growth factor-beta 1 expression associated with a greater number of treatments was observed in the ST36 group in which 18 electro-acupuncture applications induced about 50% more transforming growth factor-beta 1 than did 3 electro-acupuncture applications (P < 0.05). |
