Objective: To investigate the effects of acupuncture on calcium channel Cav1.3 expression and neuronal apoptosis of spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve of chronic cerebral ischemia rats. Methods: 36 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into acupuncture group, ischemia group and sham operation group. The chronic cerebral ischemia rats' model was made by occluding the left common carotid artery and bilateral vertebral arteries; and then the rats in acupuncture group were acupunctured the “Sibai acupoints” for 15 days. Immunohistochemical stain was used to detect the calcium channel Cav1.3 expression in spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve, TUNEL to detect apoptosis of neurons, electron microscope to observe the ultrastructure of neurons. Results: The calcium channel Cav1.3 protein expression in spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve of rats in acupuncture group was obviously higher than ischemia group, but still lower than sham operation group(P<0.05). The apoptotic neurons number of three groups from high to low was ischemia group, acupuncture group and sham operation group (P<0.05). The coated vesicles could be found in neurons of rats in acupuncture group under electron microscope. Conclusions: Acupuncture of rats' “Sibai acupoints” can obviously up regulate the calcium channel Cav1.3 expression and decrease neuronal apoptosis in spinal nucleus of trigeminal nerve of chronic cerebral ischemia rats.

Objective: To investigate the changes of calcium channel Cav1.3 protein expression in hippocampus of chronic cerebral ischemia rats. Methods: 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham-operation group, ischemia 7 days group and ischemia 14 days group. The chronic cerebral ischemia rats’ model was established by blocking left vertebral artery and common carotid artery on both sides. Nissl’s staining was used to observe the morphology of neurons in hippocampus CA1 region,Western Blot to detect calcium channel Cav1.3 protein expression in hippocampus. Results: Compared with 7 days group, the pathological changes of neurons in hippocampus CA1 region of rats in 14 days group markedly aggravated. With prolongation of ischemic time, the calcium channel Cav1.3 protein expression obviously decreased. Conclusions: Chronic cerebral ischemia may affect the normal function of hippocampal neurons by decreasing the expression of calcium channel Cav1.3 protein in hippocampus.