Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (8): 1272-1277.doi: 10.12307/2022.235

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Acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease: an insight into the action mechanism in animal experiments

Zhu Chan1, 2, Han Xuke1, 2, Yao Chengjiao1, 2, Zhang Qiang3, Liu Jing4, Shao Ming4, 5   

  1. 1Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China; 2Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan Province, China; 3Sichuan Provincial Orthopedics Hospital, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China; 4Sichuan China 81 Rehabilitation Center (Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital), Chengdu 611135, Sichuan Province, China; 5Brain Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2020-12-08 Revised:2020-12-12 Accepted:2021-01-09 Online:2022-03-18 Published:2021-11-02
  • Contact: Shao Ming, Chief physician, Doctoral supervisor, Sichuan China 81 Rehabilitation Center (Sichuan Provincial Rehabilitation Hospital), Chengdu 611135, Sichuan Province, China; Brain Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510370, Guangdong Province, China
  • About author:Zhu Chan, MD candidate, Attending physician, Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610072, Sichuan Province, China; Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2018YFC2001600; Guangdong Provincial Key Research and Development Project, No. 2018B030339001; Sichuan Provincial Science and Technology Project, No. 2018JY0664 (to SM); China Rehabilitation Medical Institution Alliance Special Major Project, No. 20160001 (to SM); Research project of Sichuan Medical Association, No. S16061 (to SM)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Animal experiments on acupuncture treatment of Parkinson’s disease are an important way to study the mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on Parkinson’s disease.
OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the therapeutic mechanism of acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease in animal models. 
METHODS: Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Science and Technology Periodical database (VIP) and WanFang database were searched to collect experimental studies on acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease in recent 5 years. The keywords were “Parkinson’s disease; paralysis agitans; shaking palsy; acupuncture; electropuncture; animal model; experimental study” in English and Chinese, respectively. Finally, 22 eligible literatures regarding animal experiments were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: We found that the mechanisms of acupuncture for Parkinson’s disease mainly include increasing brain neurotrophin, reducing abnormal metabolites, enhancing autophagy, reducing α-syn aggregation to inhibit neuronal apoptosis, inhibit oxidative stress, inhibit endoplasmic reticulum stress, regulate intestinal flora, and reduce inflammatory reactions. Acupuncture can block the occurrence and progression of Parkinson’s disease from multiple pathological mechanisms, while further studies are still needed.

Key words: acupuncture, Parkinson’s disease, animal model, monkey, rat, rabbit, mechanism, review

CLC Number: