| 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: |
However, the production of Bcl-2 increased with 18 treatments in the non-acupoint groups (P < 0.05). |
| 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 Bcl-2 in the ischemic hemisphere of the brain |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The expression of Bcl-2 in the different groups is shown in Figure 2. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
The amount of Bcl-2 expressed in the uninjured group was 0.502 +- 0.06 pg Bcl-2 per mg protein. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
With three applications of electro-acupuncture stimulation, a significant increase in Bcl-2 expression was only observed in the ST36 group (P < 0.05). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Bcl-2 expression was higher with 18 applications of electro-acupuncture stimulation than with 3 applications in all groups. |
| Evidence Sentence: |
Relative to the control and GB20 groups, the ST36 group expressed 29% and 15% (respectively) more Bcl-2 (P < 0.05). |
| Evidence Sentence: |
However, Bcl-2 expression was also upregulated in the non-acupoint group (18-times), similar to the expression in the ST36 group. |
