Figure 5.

Western blot analysis showed that AM increased the protein levels of Shh and Gli-1 in spinal cord of SCI rats. (A) Representative western blot bands of Shh and Gli-1 in sham, SCI, SCI + AP, SCI + MX and SCI + AM groups. (B) The protein level of Shh in spinal cord tissues of the sham group, SCI, SCI + AP, SCI + MX and SCI + AM groups at 7 and 14 days after SCI surgery. (C) The protein level of Gli-1 in spinal cord tissues of the sham group, SCI, SCI + AP, SCI + MX and SCI + AM groups at 7 and 14 days after SCI surgery. Data are expressed as the mean ± SD (n = 4). & Compared to that from Sham group, P < 0.05; * Compared to that from SCI 7d group, P < 0.05; # Compared to that from SCI 7d group, P < 0.05. SCI: spinal cord injury; AP: acupuncture; MX: moxibustion; AM: acupuncture combined with moxibustion