Effect of moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) on the expression of BDNF and c-fos in the urinary control brain regions of rats with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury
YU Han, FU Yuanbo, LIU Huilin, et al. Effect of moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) on the expression of BDNF and c-fos in the urinary control brain regions of rats with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury[J]. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2025, 45(5): 638-645.
YU Han, FU Yuanbo, LIU Huilin, et al. Effect of moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) on the expression of BDNF and c-fos in the urinary control brain regions of rats with neurogenic bladder after spinal cord injury[J]. Chinese Acupuncture & Moxibustion, 2025, 45(5): 638-645.DOI: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20240507-k0004.
To observe the effects of moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) on urodynamics and the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and immediate early gene (c-fos) in pontine micturition center (PMC)
periaqueductal gray (PAG)
medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of neurogenic bladder (NB) rats after spinal cord injury.
Methods
2
Twenty-four SPF female SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group (6 rats) and a modeling group (18 rats). In the modeling group
T
9
complete spinal cord transection method was used to establish a neurogenic detrusor overactivity model
and the 12 rats with successful modeling were randomized into a model group and a moxibustion group
with 6 rats in each group. The rats in the moxibustion group were treated with ginger/salt-insulated moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8)
and 4 consecutive moxa cones were delivered in one intervention. Moxibustion was operated once daily and for 14 days. After intervention completion
the urodynamic indexes of rats in each group were detected. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the mRNA expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC
PAG and mPFC in rats. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC
PAG and mPFC.
Results
2
The rats in the sham-operation grou
p did not show phasic detrusor contraction during bladder filling. Compared with the model group
the frequency and amplitude of the phasic detrusor contraction were reduced 5 min before urine leakage in the rats of the moxibustion group (
P
<
0.05)
and the duration of the first phasic detrusor contraction during bladder filling was prolonged (
P
<
0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group
the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC
PAG and mPFC increased in the model group (
P
<
0.05). Compared with the model group
the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC
PAG and mPFC decreased in the moxibustion group (
P
<
0.05).
Conclusion
2
Moxibustion at "Shenque" (CV8) can improve the phasic contraction during bladder filling in NB rats after spinal cord injury
possibly by down-regulating the mRNA and protein expression of BDNF and c-fos in PMC