Skip to content
2000
Volume 22, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 1567-2026
  • E-ISSN: 1875-5739

Abstract

Introduction

Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is a common complication after acute stroke. It can be effectively alleviated by electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at the Baihui acupoint; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.

Methods

Male ICR mice were used, and the suture occlusion method was employed to establish the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) mouse model. EA stimulation was applied to the Baihui acupoint for intervention. After treatment, the survival rate of the mice was assessed. Subsequently, a water swallow test was conducted to evaluate the degree of dysphagia in the mice. Additionally, neurological function was assessed through Garcia scoring and measurement of serum Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase activity. Fur-thermore, MRI was utilized to evaluate the therapeutic effects of EA on cerebral infarction and edema rates. Then, the antioxidant activity of the EA intervention was assessed by measuring indicators of oxida-tive damage. Finally, the expressions of gamma-aminobutyric acid type B receptor subunit 1 (GAB-ABR1), N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1) were detected through WB, RT-qPCR, and immu-nofluorescence.

Results

EA intervention effectively increased the survival rate of MCAO mice and alleviated their dysphagia. Additionally, the impaired neurological function of the mice was improved, and cerebral infarction and edema rates were reduced. Furthermore, EA alleviated oxidative stress in mice, reduced damage to neurons in the nucleus ambiguus, and upregulated GABABR1 while downregulating NMDAR1.

Discussion

Although we suggested that EA may exert therapeutic activity for PSD by maintaining the balance of NMDAR1 and GABABR1, this conclusion still requires further experimental validation.

Conclusion

EA stimulation of the Baihui acupoint was effective in treating PSD, which was related to its ability to improve damaged neurons, upregulate GABABR1, and downregulate NMDAR1. These findings provided a new insight into the mechanisms of EA treatment for PSD and serve as a theoretical basis for future clinical research.

© 2025 Bentham Science Publishers
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cnr/10.2174/0115672026381025250803030921
2025-08-11
2026-03-04

  • From This Site

    /content/journals/cnr/10.2174/0115672026381025250803030921
    dcterms_title,dcterms_subject,pub_keyword
    -contentType:Contributor -contentType:Concept -contentType:Institution
    10
    5
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. HurdM.D. GoelI. SakaiY. TeramuraY. Current status of ischemic stroke treatment: From thrombolysis to potential regenerative medicine.Regen. Ther.20211840841710.1016/j.reth.2021.09.00934722837
     [Google Scholar]
  2. DingQ. LiuS. YaoY. LiuH. CaiT. HanL. Global, regional, and national burden of ischemic stroke, 1990–2019.Neurology2022983e279e29010.1212/WNL.000000000001311534911748
     [Google Scholar]
  3. RofesL. MurianaD. PalomerasE. VilardellN. PalomeraE. Alvarez-BerdugoD. CasadoV. ClavéP. Prevalence, risk factors and complications of oropharyngeal dysphagia in stroke patients: A cohort study.Neurogastroenterol. Motil.2018308e1333810.1111/nmo.1333829573064
     [Google Scholar]
  4. XuZ. GuY. LiJ. WangC. WangR. HuangY. ZhangJ. Dysphagia and aspiration pneumonia in elderly hospitalization stroke patients: Risk factors, cerebral infarction area comparison.J. Back Musculoskeletal Rehabil.2019321859110.3233/BMR‑17080130223382
     [Google Scholar]
  5. DziewasR. MichouE. Trapl-GrundschoberM. LalA. ArsavaE.M. BathP.M. ClavéP. GlahnJ. HamdyS. PownallS. SchindlerA. WalsheM. WirthR. WrightD. VerinE. European stroke organisation and european society for swallowing disorders guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of post-stroke dysphagia.Eur. Stroke J.202163LXXXIXCXV10.1177/2396987321103972134746431
     [Google Scholar]
  6. DoanT.N. HoW.C. WangL.H. ChangF.C. TranT.T.Q. ChouL.W. Therapeutic effect and optimal electrode placement of transcutaneous neuromuscular electrical stimulation in patients with post-stroke dysphagia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Life202212687510.3390/life1206087535743906
     [Google Scholar]
  7. FangW. ZhengF. ZhangL. WangW. YuC. ShaoJ. WuY. Research progress of clinical intervention and nursing for patients with post-stroke dysphagia.Neurol. Sci.202243105875588410.1007/s10072‑022‑06191‑935661279
     [Google Scholar]
  8. YaoL. LiangW. DuX. ChenY. HuangX. Effect of acupuncture on long-term outcomes in patients with post-stroke dysphagia.NeuroRehabilitation202251343344110.3233/NRE‑22011335871375
     [Google Scholar]
  9. LiN. WangH. LiuH. ZhuL. LyuZ. QiuJ. ZhaoT. RenH. HuangL. ChenS. HuX. ZhouL. The effects and mechanisms of acupuncture for post-stroke cognitive impairment: Progress and prospects.Front. Neurosci.202317121104410.3389/fnins.2023.121104437397457
     [Google Scholar]
  10. XuZ.J. WuL.N. XuF. LiG.P. WangS. YeY.Z. Acupoint selection rules of acupuncture and moxibustion for post-stroke epilepsy based on data mining technology.Zhongguo Zhenjiu202343671572010.13703/j.0255‑2930.20220911‑k000437313568
     [Google Scholar]
  11. ChenS.Y. ZouD.H. ZhengS.J. A brief discussion on the theoretical basis and mechanism of action of baihui-to-bone therapy for transient ischemic attack.Clin. Res. Chinese Med.202214335255
     [Google Scholar]
  12. WangY. WangJ. Research progress on the treatment of post-stroke sequelae with prolonged needle retention at baihui acupoint.Clin. J. Chin. Med. Pharm.20223481559156310.16448/j.cjtcm.2022.0843
     [Google Scholar]
  13. BlountQ. Hernandez-MoratoI. MoayediY. PitmanM.J. Expression of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor receptors within nucleus ambiguus during rat development.Laryngoscope202313392240224710.1002/lary.3044036271908
     [Google Scholar]
  14. FogartyM.J. Dendritic morphology of motor neurons and interneurons within the compact, semicompact, and loose formations of the rat nucleus ambiguus.Front. Cell. Neurosci.202418140997410.3389/fncel.2024.140997438933178
     [Google Scholar]
  15. AhmadiF. ZendehdelM. BabapourV. PanahiN. HassanpourS. KhodadadiM. Modulatory function of NMDA glutamate receptor on MC3/MC4 receptors agonist-induced hypophagia in neonatal meat-type chicken.Vet. Res. Commun.201741424124810.1007/s11259‑017‑9693‑x28589422
     [Google Scholar]
  16. ShiJ. YeQ. ZhaoJ. LiuJ. XuZ. YiW. XuN. EA promotes swallowing via activating swallowing-related motor neurons in the nucleus ambiguus.Brain Res.2019171810311310.1016/j.brainres.2018.12.01330537518
     [Google Scholar]
  17. UrrutiaP.J. González-BillaultC. A role for second messengers in axodendritic neuronal polarity.J. Neurosci.202343122037205210.1523/JNEUROSCI.1065‑19.202336948585
     [Google Scholar]
  18. KumarV.S. GopalakrishnanA. NaziroğluM. RajanikantG.K. Calcium ion--the key player in cerebral ischemia.Curr. Med. Chem.201421182065207510.2174/092986732166613122820424624372212
     [Google Scholar]
  19. LetellierM. GodaY. Astrocyte calcium signaling shifts the polarity of presynaptic plasticity.Neuroscience2023525384610.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.05.03237295597
     [Google Scholar]
  20. ChenB. LinW. LiZ. ZhongX. WangJ. YouX. ZhaoH. QiD. Electroacupuncture attenuates ischemic brain injury and cellular apoptosis via mitochondrial translocation of cofilin.Chin. J. Integr. Med.202127970571210.1007/s11655‑021‑3335‑433709239
     [Google Scholar]
  21. ChuangC.M. HsiehC.L. LiT.C. LinJ.G. Acupuncture stimulation at Baihui acupoint reduced cerebral infarct and increased dopamine levels in chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and ischemia-reperfusion injured sprague-dawley rats.Am. J. Chin. Med.200735577979110.1142/S0192415X0700526017963318
     [Google Scholar]
  22. SuK. HaoW. LvZ. WuM. LiJ. HuY. ZhangZ. GaoJ. FengX. Electroacupuncture of Baihui and Shenting ameliorates cognitive deficits via Pten/Akt pathway in a rat cerebral ischemia injury model.Front. Neurol.20221385536210.3389/fneur.2022.85536236062010
     [Google Scholar]
  23. MuscariA. FalconeR. PirazzoliE. FaccioliL. MuscariS. Pastore TrosselloM. PudduG.M. RignaneseL. SpinardiL. ZoliM. Predicting failure to recover swallowing in patients with severe post-stroke dysphagia: The DIsPHAGIc Score.Dysphagia202338129030410.1007/s00455‑022‑10467‑935676540
     [Google Scholar]
  24. CuiS. YaoS. WuC. YaoL. HuangP. ChenY. TangC. XuN. Electroacupuncture involved in motor cortex and hypoglossal neural control to improve voluntary swallowing of poststroke dysphagia mice.Neural Plast.2020202011810.1155/2020/885754333061953
     [Google Scholar]
  25. ZhaoH. JiangY. WangS. HeF. RenF. ZhangZ. YangX. ZhuC. YueJ. LiY. LiuY. Dysphagia diagnosis system with integrated speech analysis from throat vibration.Expert Syst. Appl.202220411749610.1016/j.eswa.2022.117496
     [Google Scholar]
  26. HonzelE. Hernandez-MoratoI. JoshiA. Pennington-FitzgeraldW. MoayediY. PitmanM.J. Temporal expression of Hox genes and Phox2b in the rat nucleus ambiguus during development: Implications on laryngeal innervation.Laryngoscope2023133123462347110.1002/lary.3082637350386
     [Google Scholar]
  27. BelousovA. FontesJ. Role of neuronal gap junctions in NMDA receptor-mediated excitotoxicity and ischemic neuronal death.Neural Regen. Res.2016111757610.4103/1673‑5374.16963026981086
     [Google Scholar]
  28. NguyenQ.N.S. YooK.Y. PhamT.T.T. SelvarajB. VuH.T. LeT.T. LeeH. TranQ.L. ThuongP.T. PaeA.N. JungS.H. LeeJ.W. Neuroprotective effects of ethanol extract Polyscias guilfoylei (EEPG) against glutamate induced neurotoxicity in HT22 cells.Int. J. Mol. Sci.202425221215310.3390/ijms25221215339596219
     [Google Scholar]
  29. SchieweckR. KieblerM.A. Posttranscriptional gene regulation of the GABA receptor to control neuronal inhibition.Front. Mol. Neurosci.20191215210.3389/fnmol.2019.0015231316346
     [Google Scholar]
  30. AbolghasempourS. ZendehdelM. PanahiN. JahandidehA. GilanpourH. Intracerebroventricular Injection of the Glutamatergic Receptors Antagonist Affects N/OFQ-Induced Hyperphagia in Neonatal Broilers: Role of NMDA and AMPA Receptors.Int. J. Pept. Res. Ther.201925383584310.1007/s10989‑018‑9733‑6
     [Google Scholar]
  31. HungJ.S. LiangS.W. OmariT. WongM.W. LeiW.Y. YiC.H. LiuT.T. LinL. ChenC.L. Effects of the GABA (B) agonist baclofen on volitional swallowing in normal subjects.Kaohsiung J. Med. Sci.2023391808610.1002/kjm2.1260736245436
     [Google Scholar]
  32. YuanY. TianY. JiangH. CaiL. SongJ. PengR. ZhangX. Mechanism of PGC-1α-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis in cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury.Front. Mol. Neurosci.202316122496410.3389/fnmol.2023.122496437492523
     [Google Scholar]
  33. QianJ. LiangT. XuY. LiuZ.P. JingL.L. LuoH.B. Effect of the novel free radical scavenger 4′-hydroxyl-2-substituted phenylnitronyl nitroxide on oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis induced by cerebral ischemia–reperfusion in rats.Neuroscience202454011110.1016/j.neuroscience.2023.12.01638242279
     [Google Scholar]
  34. KongX.Y. GuanJ. WangR.Z. Molecular biological roles of oxidative stress in acute brain ischemia.Zhongguo Yi Xue Ke Xue Yuan Xue Bao201638222222710.3881/j.issn.1000‑503X.2016.02.01727181902
     [Google Scholar]
  35. LiuJ. JiangX. ZhangQ. LinS. ZhuJ. ZhangY. DuJ. HuX. MengW. ZhaoQ. Neuroprotective effects of Kukoamine A against cerebral ischemia via antioxidant and inactivation of apoptosis pathway.Neurochem. Int.201710719119710.1016/j.neuint.2016.12.02428088348
     [Google Scholar]
  36. ParkU.J. LeeY.A. WonS.M. LeeJ.H. KangS.H. SpringerJ.E. LeeY.B. GwagB.J. Blood-derived iron mediates free radical production and neuronal death in the hippocampal CA1 area following transient forebrain ischemia in rat.Acta Neuropathol.2011121445947310.1007/s00401‑010‑0785‑821120509
     [Google Scholar]
  37. ShahF.A. KuryL.A. LiT. ZebA. KohP.O. LiuF. ZhouQ. HussainI. KhanA.U. JiangY. LiS. Polydatin attenuates neuronal loss via reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in rat MCAO models.Front. Pharmacol.20191066310.3389/fphar.2019.0066331293416
     [Google Scholar]
  38. SunY. ChengM. LiangX. ChenS. WangM. ZhangX. JAK2/STAT3 involves oxidative stress-induced cell injury in N2a cells and a rat MCAO model.Int. J. Neurosci.2020130111142115010.1080/00207454.2020.173082932064985
     [Google Scholar]
  39. SpohrL. SoaresM.S.P. BonaN.P. PedraN.S. BarschakA.G. AlvarizR.M. VizzottoM. LencinaC.L. StefanelloF.M. SpanevelloR.M. Effect of blueberry extract on energetic metabolism, levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and Ca2+-ATPase activity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of rats submitted to ketamine-induced mania-like behavior.Metab. Brain Dis.202237383584710.1007/s11011‑022‑00904‑x35043268
     [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cnr/10.2174/0115672026381025250803030921
Loading
Electroacupuncture Intervention Improves Post-Stroke Dysphagia by Modulating NMDAR1 and GABABR1
Curr Neurovasc Res 22, 137 (2025); https://doi.org/10.2174/0115672026381025250803030921
/content/journals/cnr/10.2174/0115672026381025250803030921
/content/journals/cnr/10.2174/0115672026381025250803030921
Loading

Data & Media loading...

Supplements

Supplementary material is available on the publisher's website along with the published article.

file format download Download

  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keyword(s): baihui point; electroacupuncture; GABABR1; neuronal damage; NMDAR1; Post-stroke dysphagia

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test