Objective: Electroacupuncture effect on neurological behavior and the expression of tyrosine kinase Janus kinase 2 (JAK 2) of ischemic cortex in rats with the focal cerebral ischemia were investigated in this study.
Methods: The model of focal cerebral ischemia was established by the heat-coagulation induced the occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. The electro-acupuncture was applied on Baihui (GV 20) and Dazhui (GV 14), and AG490 was applied by intracerebroventricular infusion. The expressions of JAK2 mRNA and phospharylated JAK2 (p-JAK2) in the ischemic cortex were observed by in situ hybridization and western blotting.
Results: The expressions of JAK2 mRNA and p-JAK2 were rarely found in sham surgery group. In model group, the expression of JAK2 mRNA and JAK2 phosphorylation had increased. After 1 day of cerebral ischemia, the expression had reached its peak. After cerebral ischemia, the expressions of JAK2 mRNA and p-JAK2 were consistent with the neurological deficit score. Electroacupuncture treatment and AG490 intervention were able to improve the neurological deficit score after cerebral ischemia, and down-regulate the expressions of JAK2 mRNA and JAK2 phosphorylation.
Conclusion: After cerebral ischemia, the excessive expressions of JAK2 and the JAK2 phosphorylation would be one of mechanisms by which the brain injury got worse. The therapy of electro-acupuncture could reduce the expression of JAK2, and inhibit JAK2 phosphorylated activation, so as to block the abnormal activation of signal transduction pathway which was induced by JAK2.