Objective:

2

To observe the angiogenesis effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shuigou acupoint (GV 26) in the treatment of cerebral ischemia

and explore the value of miRNA-7 (miR-7) in it.

Methods:

2

First

48 mice were randomly divided into sham operation

middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model

and EA treatment groups. Then 9 mice were divided into carrier c

ontrol group

miR-7 knockout group and miR-7 overexpression group (

n

=3 each group). Finally

20 mice were divided into model and carrier control group

model and miR-7 knockout group

EA treatment and carrier control group and EA treatment and miR-7 overexpression group

with 3–6 mice in each group. The MCAO model was established in the MCAO and EA groups. Neurological deficit score and 2

3

5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining were used to evaluate the severity of cerebral ischemia. Hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to describe basic pathological changes. Immunohistochemistry was used to quantify cerebral microvessel density. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of miR-7 and its downstream target genes Krüppel-like factor 4/vascular endothelial growth factor (KLF4/VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (ANG-2) in the ischemic cerebral cortex.

Results:

2

After EA

neurological deficit scores and infarction volumes decreased

and the density of cerebral microvessels increased. In the MCAO group

miR-7 expression was higher than that in the sham group (

P

<

0.01). After EA at GV 26

miR-7 expression decreased (

P

<

0.01) and the expression of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 increased as compared with the MCAO group (

P

<

0.01). After EA combined with overexpression of miR-7

the expression of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 decreased compared to the control EA group (

P

<

0.01). After miR-7 knockdown

the expression of KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2 increased (

P

<

0.05 or

P

<

0.01).

Conclusions:

2

EA could promote angiogenesis in MCAO mice likely by inhibiting the expression of miR-7 and relieving inhibition of downstream target genes KLF4/VEGF and ANG-2.