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Electroacupuncture Promotes Functional Recovery after Facial Nerve Injury in Rats by Regulating Autophagy via GDNF and PI3K/mTOR Signaling Pathway

  • Acupuncture Research
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Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in promoting recovery of the facial function with the involvement of autophagy, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway.

Methods

Seventy-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into the control, sham-operated, facial nerve injury (FNI), EA, EA+3-methyladenine (3-MA), and EA+GDNF antagonist groups using a random number table, with 12 rats in each group. An FNI rat model was established with facial nerve crushing method. EA intervention was conducted at Dicang (ST 4), Jiache (ST 6), Yifeng (SJ 17), and Hegu (LI 4) acupoints for 2 weeks. The Simone’s 10-Point Scale was utilized to monitor the recovery of facial function. The histopathological evaluation of facial nerves was performed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. The levels of Beclin-1, light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Additionally, IHC was also used to detect the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR.

Results

The facial functional scores were significantly increased in the EA group than the FNI group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). HE staining showed nerve axons and myelin sheaths, which were destroyed immediately after the injury, were recovered with EA treatment. The expressions of Beclin-1 and LC3 were significantly elevated and the expression of P62 was markedly reduced in FNI rats (P<0.01); however, EA treatment reversed these abnormal changes (P<0.01). Meanwhile, EA stimulation significantly increased the levels of GDNF, Rai, PI3K, and mTOR (P<0.01). After exogenous administration with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or GDNF antagonist, the repair effect of EA on facial function was attenuated (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

Conclusions

EA could promote the recovery of facial function and repair the facial nerve damages in a rat model of FNI. EA may exert this neuroreparative effect through mediating the release of GDNF, activating the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway, and further regulating the autophagy of facial nerves.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Acupuncture and Tuina School, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China

    Jun-peng Yao, Lu Wang, Yan-qiu Li, Zi-yue Zhu, Xiang-yun Yan, Yu-qing Yang & Ying Li

  2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Guanghan People’s Hospital, Guanghan, Sichuan Province, 618399, China

    Xiu-mei Feng

  3. Academic Affairs Office, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China

    Wei Zhang

Authors
  1. Jun-peng Yao
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  2. Xiu-mei Feng
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  3. Lu Wang
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  4. Yan-qiu Li
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  5. Zi-yue Zhu
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  6. Xiang-yun Yan
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  7. Yu-qing Yang
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  8. Ying Li
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  9. Wei Zhang
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Contributions

Yao JP, Feng XM, Li Y and Zhang W conceived and designed the experiments. Yao JP, Feng XM, Wang L, Li YQ and Zhu ZY performed the experiments. Yan XY and Yang YQ analyzed the data. Yao JP wrote the original manuscript, Li Y and Zhang W revised this manuscript. All authors have reviewed this final version and approved the publication of this manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wei Zhang.

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The authors have no competing interests to declare for this study.

Additional information

Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81603706)

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Yao, Jp., Feng, Xm., Wang, L. et al. Electroacupuncture Promotes Functional Recovery after Facial Nerve Injury in Rats by Regulating Autophagy via GDNF and PI3K/mTOR Signaling Pathway. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 30, 251–259 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3610-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-023-3610-7

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