Acupuncture Treatment at HT8 Supresses Seizure and Inflammation in Hippocampi on an Epilepsy Mice Model

Objectives : To confirm whether acupuncture can suppress the degree of seizure and the activation of astrocytes in hippocampi using kainic acid(KA)-induced epilepsy mouse model. Methods : 8 weeks C57BL/6 mice(20~25 g) were given acupuncture once a day at acupoint HT8(Shaofu) bilaterally during 2 days before KA injection. After an intraperitoneal injection of 30 mg/kg KA, acupuncture treatment was subsequently administered once more(total 3 times), and the degree of seizure was observed for 120 min. The neuronal cell death, pERK expression, and astrocyte activation confirmed 1 hour and 24 hours after KA injection. Results : Acupuncture treatment at HT8 suppressed KA-induced epileptic seizure. One hour after KA injection, the pERK expression was increased, which was reduced by the acupuncture treatment. Twenty four hours after injection, the treatment decreased the KA-induced neuronal cell death, the interleukin- expression and the astrocyte activation in the CA3 region of the mouse hippocampus. Conclusions : Acupuncture treatment at HT8 decreases the KA-induced epileptic seizure, the neural cell inflammation and death.