Electroacupuncture reduces the extent of lipid peroxidation by increasing superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities in ischemic-reperfused rat brains

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2004

Keywords

Cerebral ischemia, Electroacupuncture, Glutathione peroxidase, Lipid peroxidation, Superoxide dismutase

DOI

10.1016/j.neulet.2003.10.009

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species can be scavenged by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). During ischemia-reperfusion, the normal functioning of these antioxidant enzymes may be insufficient for the prevention of oxidant-induced peroxidation of membrane lipids and hence cerebral infarction. We therefore investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at Fengchi points in post-ischemic rats could increase the antioxidant enzyme activities and thereby reduce the extent of lipid peroxidation. The results indicated that while EA did not alter the antioxidant enzyme activities in non-ischemic normal rat brains, ischemia-reperfusion caused significant increases in SOD and GPx activities. EA treatment further increased the antioxidant enzyme activities in ischemic-reperfused brain tissues, with a concomitant decrease in the extent of lipid peroxidation. Our finding suggests that EA treatment at Fengchi reduced the extent of lipid peroxidation in ischemic-reperfused rat brains, possibly by increasing the activities of SOD and GPx.

Source Publication

Neuroscience Letters

Volume Number

354

Issue Number

2

ISSN

0304-3940

First Page

158

Last Page

162

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