Acupuncture ameliorates neurological function in rats with cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion by regulating the opening of large‐conductance Ca(2+)‐activated potassium channels

Acupuncture has a good effect on improving neurological function after cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion, but there are few studies on the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture from the perspective of ion channel cellular electrophysiology. Studies have shown that the over activation of large‐conductance Ca(2+)‐activated potassium channel （BKCa） after cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion can reduce the excitability of neurons and induce apoptosis. This study intends to establish middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) model, with acupuncture at GV26 as the intervention measure, using patch‐clamp technique to record the electrophysiological changes of BKCa channel. The results showed that the neurological function score of MCAO/R rats was significantly decreased, and the conductance, open dwell time and open probability of BKCa channel in hippocampal CA1 neurons of MCAO/R rats were significantly increased. Acupuncture at GV26 could significantly improve the neurological function scores of MCAO/R rats, and reduce the conductance, open dwell time, and open probability of BKCa channel. The effect of acupuncture at GV26 was significantly better than acupuncture at non‐acupuncture point. The neuroprotective effect of acupuncture at GV26 after cerebral ischemia‐reperfusion may be related to regulating the electrophysiological characteristics of BKCa channel opening.