Electroacupuncture Synergistically Inhibits Proinflammatory Cytokine Production and Improves Cognitive Function in Rats with Cognitive Impairment due to Hepatic Encephalopathy through p38MAPK/STAT3 and TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathways

Figure 5

Wistar rats were treated with intraperitoneal injections of 1 mL/kg of 35% CCl₄ twice a week for 9 weeks. When HE models were established, the lactulose group (CCl₄ + Lac) and acupuncture combined with medicine group (CCl₄ + CM) were gavaged with 10 mL/kg body weight. EA was given to the EA (CCl₄ + EA) and the combination (CCl₄ + CM) groups 30 min per day with consecutive 21 days. There are 10 rats in the normal group, and 9 rats in each of no-intervention group (CCl₄) and treatment groups including EA group (CCl₄ + EA), lactulose group (CCl₄ + Lac), and EA combined with lactulose (CCl₄ + CM) group. Expressions of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, iNOS, TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, p38MAPK, and STAT3 genes were used to evaluate hepatic inflammation in the mRNA level detected by RT-qPCR.

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