Table 1.
Summary of the studies investigating acupuncture's effects on functional recovery improvement after stroke via regulating neurogenesis factors.
| Research group | Model | Acupoint | Acupuncture method | Stimulation parameter | Treatment course | Molecular and cellular results | Behavioral test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zhou (150) | MCAO | PC6, ST36 | EA | 2 Hz/30 Hz, 5 mA | 30 min/day, 3, 7, 14, 28 days | BDNF↑, Sema3A↓, NRP-1↓ | Bederson score |
| Kim et al. (151) | MCAO | GV20, GV14 | EA | 2 Hz, 2 V | 20 min/day, 10 days from 5 days after MCAO | NSCs↑, BDNF↑, VEGF↑, p-PI3K↑, p-ERK↑ | Morris Water Maze (MWM) |
| Kim et al. (152) | MCAO | GV20, GB7 | EA | 3 Hz for 5 s, with 2 s intervals, at an intensity of the muscle twitch threshold | 5 min/2 days, 2 w from 3 days after MCAO | BDNF↑, TrkB↑ | Garcia scale assessments |
| Yi et al. (153) | MCAO | GV20, GV14 | EA | Disperse-dense wave, 5–10 times/s, intensity in the rat quiet tolerance degree, about 3–5 V | 30 min/day, 2 or 5 weeks | P38↑, GAP-43↑, NGF↑, BDNF↑ | / |
| Xia et al. (154) | I/R | KI3, LR3 | MA | / | 30 min/day, 14 days | BDNF↑, SYN↑, PSD↑ | NSS, MWM |
| Zheng et al. (155) | I/R | GV20, GV24+ | EA | 2 Hz, 1 mA, 100 μs | 10 min/day, 14 days | BDNF↑, TrkB↑, NMDAR1↑, AMPAR↑, GABAAR↑, CaMKII↑, NeuN↑, PSD-95↑ | MWM, Novel Object Recognition Test, Open Field Test |
| Zhao et al. (156) | I/R | GV20, GV26 | EA | 2/100 Hz, 2 mA | 40 min/day, 6 days | NGF↑ | Zea Longa neurological score, MWM |
| Zhang et al. (157) | MCAO | nape cluster acupoints | MA | Twisting Angle is 60° | 15 min/day, 15 days | BDNF↑, NGF↑ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Tao et al. (158) | I/R | LI11, ST36 | EA | Dense disperse wave of 1 or 20-Hz | 30 min/day, 3 days | BDNF↑, GFAP↑, vimentin↑, nestin↑, Cyclin D1↑, CDK4↑, phpspho-Rb↑ |
Zea Longa neurological score, Catwalk gait, Rotarod test |
| Gu et al. (159) | I/R | LI11, ST36 | EA | 2 Hz/15 Hz, 2–4 mA | 20 min/day, 7 days | BDNF↑, PGC-1α↑, FNDC5↑ | Zea Longa neurological score, Balance Beam score |
| Chen et al. (160) | I/R | LI11, ST36 | EA | Disperse wave of 1 and 20 Hz | 30 min, once | BDNF↑, GDNF↑, PI3K↑, p-Akt↑, t-Akt↑, Bcl-2/Bax ratio↑ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Xue et al. (161) | I/R | LI11, ST36 | EA | Disperse wave of 4 and 20 Hz | 30 min/day, 3 days | PI3K↑, p-Akt↑, p-Bad↑, Bcl-2↑, Bax↓, cleaved caspase−3↓ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Yang et al. (162) | MCAO | GV16, GV8 | EA | 60 Hz 1 s and 2 Hz 3 s alternately at an intensity of 10 mA | 20 min, once | BrdU+ cells↑, BrdU+/CRMP-4(+)↑, BrdU+/MAP-2(+)↑ | / |
| Tao et al. (163) | MCAO | LI11, ST36 | EA | 1 Hz/20 Hz, at an intensity of the muscle twitch threshold (the muscle twitch threshold was about 0.01 mA) | 30 min/day, 7 days | BDNF↑, Nestin↑, Notch1↑, NICD↑, Hes1↑, GDNF↑, D1↑, Cdk4↑, p-Rb↑, p21↓, p27↓ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Chen et al. (164) | MCAO | LI11, ST36 | EA | disperse-dense waves of 1 or 20 Hz frequencies | 30 min/day, 3 days | GFAP↑, Nestin↑, Wnt1↑, β-catenin↑, GSK3↓ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Zhang et al. (165) | MCAO | LI11, ST36 | EA | 1/20 Hz, 1 mA | 30 min/day, 21 days | miR-146b↑, NeuroD1↑ | mNSS |
| Zhao et al. (166) | MCAO | GV20 | EA | 1–2 mA, dense-disperse frequency of 2/10 Hz | 30 min/day, 5 days | miR-132↑, SOX2↓ | The rotarod test, limb placement test, body swing test, measurement of forelimb placing |
| Xu et al. (167) | MCAO | GV26, GV20 | EA | 3.85 Hz/6.25 Hz, 0.8–1.3 mA | 30 min/day, 3 days | miR-210↑, CD34↑, HIF-1α↑, VEGF↑ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Tan et al. (168) | I/R | GV20, GV14 | EA | 3 V, 3 Hz | 15 min/day, 28 days | NgR↓ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Xiao et al. (169) | MCAO | PC2, PC3, PC6, PC7 | EA | 2–4 V | 30 min/day, 21 days | Nogo-A↓, NgR↓ | Zea Longa neurological score |
| Chen et al. (170) | I/R | GV20, GV14 | EA | Continuous-wave stimulation at 2 Hz (intensity, 1 mA) | 30 min/day, 7 days | GAP43↑, BDNF↑, RhoA↓, ROCK↓ | / |
| Huang et al. (171) | MCAO | LI11, ST36 | EA | A dense disperse wave of 1 and 20 Hz (adjusted to the muscle twitch threshold) | 30 min/day, 3, 7, 14 days | GAP43↑, RhoA↓, ROCK↓, Nogo-A↓, NgR↓ | Zea Longa neurological score |
Neiguan (PC6), Zusanli (ST36), Baihui (GV20), Dazhui (GV14), Taixi (KI3), Taichong (LR3), Yintang (GV24+), Shuigou (GV26), Quchi (LI11), Jinsuo (GV8), Fengfu (GV16), Tianquan (PC2), Quze (PC3), Daling (PC7).