Effects of electroacupuncture on proangiogenesis process and protein turnover in a mouse model of sarcopenia

OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on proangiogenesis process and protein turn-over in a mouse model of sarcopenia, so as to explore its potential molecular mechanism anti-aging. METHODS Fourteen 30-week-old male SAMP8 mice were randomly divided into a model group (n=7) and an EA group (n=7). Seven anti-rapidly aging SAMR1 mice of the same age were used as the control group (n=7). EA (1 mA, 4 Hz) was applied to bilateral Zusanli(ST36) and Yanglingquan(GB34) for 20 minutes each time once a day, 6 times a week for 4 weeks. The exhausted running platform was used to test the sports function. Gastrocnemius muscle mass and relative ratio of gastrocnemius muscle mass to body mass were measured. HE staining and transmission electron microscope were used to observe the morphology, and the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius muscle was calculated. Relative protein expressions of protein kinase B (AKT) , phosphorylated (p) -AKT, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) , p-mTOR, p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K) , p-p70S6K,hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and relative mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) , muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and muscle atrophy F-box (MAFbx) were detected by Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, seperatively. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the running time and distance, body mass and gastrocnemius mass, and the ratio of gastrocnemius mass to body mass decreased(P<0.01, P<0.05), cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius, related protein expression of p-AKT,p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and HIF-1α, mRNA expression of HIF-1α and VEGF-A decreased (P<0.01), while mRNA expression of MuRF1 and MAFbx increased (P<0.01) in the model group. Following EA intervention, the running time and distance, body mass and gastrocnemius mass and the ratio of gastrocnemius mass to body mass increased (P<0.05), cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius, related protein expression of p-AKT,p-mTOR, p-p70S6K and HIF-1α, mRNA expression of HIF-1α and VEGF-A were significantly up-regulated (P<0.01), mRNA expression of MuRF1 and MAFbx down-regulated (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the EA group compared with the model group. CONCLUSION EA may delay the aging muscle atrophy in mice by regulating the gastrocnemius muscle's proangiogenesis process and protein turnover.