Electroacupuncture at GV20 and ST36 Exerts Neuroprotective Effects via the EPO-Mediated JAK2/STAT3 Pathway in Cerebral Ischemic Rats

BACKGROUND: While electroacupuncture (EA) in cerebral ischemia has been used to promote functional recovery, the underlying mechanism of its protective effect remains poorly understood. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of EA stimulation at GV20 and ST36 to observe the changes in erythropoietin- (EPO-) mediated Janus family tyrosine kinases 2 (JAK2) signal transducers and activators of the transcription 3 (STAT3) cell pathway. METHODS: Thirty-six specific pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly assigned to three groups: the sham-operated group (S group), the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) group (M group), and the EA group. Neurological deficits were assessed through the Ludmila Belayev 12-score test and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining was shown. The protein and mRNA expression levels of EPO, the EPO receptor (EpoR), p-JAK2, JAK2, p-STAT3, and STAT3 were examined to explore the EA effect on rats with cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury (CIRI). RESULTS: EA significantly decreased infarct size and improved neurological function. Furthermore, target EPO, EpoR, JAK2, and STAT3 mRNA and protein levels significantly increased in the EA group. CONCLUSIONS: EA exerts a neuroprotective effect, possibly via the regulation of the EPO-mediated JAK2/STAT3 cell pathway and downstream apoptotic pathways in a rat CIRI model.