Li Yanling, Zou Jing, Huang Guofu 

(1 Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Wuhan 430065，China  ；2 Wuhan Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine，Wuhan 430022，China；3 WuChang Hospital  Affiliated to Wuhan 

technology and science University，Wuhan 430063，China) 

Abstract:  Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture at jiaji（EX-B2）  on the expression of actin  and  tubulin  in  rabbit  degenerated  intervertebral  disc  so  as  to  explore  its  mechanism  in  relieving intervertebral  disc degeneration.  Methods: A total of 40 New Zealand rabbits were randomly  divided into normal, model, sham operation  and EA  groups,  with 10  rabbits in each group. In  model group, the  lumbar intervertebral disc  degeneration  was established by using an axial compression device. EA group was treated with EA at bilateral jiaji(EX-B2) for 20 minutes, once daily for 28 days. The expression levels of actin and tubulin  of  the lumbar  intervertebral disc（L4-L5）were assayed by Western blot at the 28th  and 56th  day after operation. Results: The expression levels of actin and tubulin on the postoperative day 28 in the model group  and  EA group were significantly  declined as compared with  the normal  group  and sham  operationgroup (P<0.05). The expression levels of actin and tubulin on the postoperative day 56 in the EA group was significantly increased  than that on the  postoperative  day 28 and in the model  group  on the  postoperativeday 56  (P<0.05).  Conclusions: Electroacupuncture  at jiaji(EX-B2)  could increase the expression levels  of actin and  tubulin  in  rabbit degenerated intervertebral disc and delay the intervertebral disc degeneration through promoting the restoration of the cytoskeleton in  degenerated intervertebral disc.

Key words: intervertebral disc degeneration；electroacupuncture；jiaji（EX-B2）；actin；tubulin