Acupuncture regenerates neurons and promotes biological processes responsible for motor function recovery after spinal cord injuries. Often, motor function below spinal cord injuries deteriorates, which may lead to paralysis. Researchers discovered that acupuncture may prevent paralysis by stimulating repair. The researchers (Yang et al.) discovered that electroacupuncture produced important biological responses after a spinal cord injury necessary for the protection of motor neurons. Electroacupuncture increased the following:
- the total number of healthy neurons
- activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
- the total number Nissl bodies
- glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in mRNA
The research demonstrates that electroacupuncture promotes repair of cells responsible for motor function, which may stimulate nerve repair sufficient for the prevention of paralysis after a spinal cord injury. One way to assess the degree of nerve injury is to assess the number of Nissl bodies or the number of neurons containing Nissl bodies, which are the sites of protein synthesis (Gulino and Gulisano). Another way to assess the degree of injury is through the activity of AChE, the enzyme necessary to regenerate neurons through the breakdown of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine (Nakamura).
from Acupuncture and Herbs News and Research https://ift.tt/2hh7NKj
