ERK1/2-Egr-1 Signaling Pathway-Mediated Protective Effects of Electroacupuncture in a Mouse Model of Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion

Figure 2

EA inhibited Egr-1 expression and ERK1/2 activation in myocardium undergoing myocardial I/R. Mice were divided into 3 groups: SHAM, IR (myocardial I/R), and EA + IR (EA stimulation was performed 30 min before myocardial I/R surgery and lasted for 30 min). After 3 h of reperfusion, the animals were sacrificed and the protein levels of Egr-1and p-ERK1/2 were measured by western blot (a) and densitometric analysis is shown in panel (b-c) (𝑛=3/group). The mRNA levels of Egr-1 in these three groups are represented as the relative fold increase versus sham controls (d, 𝑛=3/group). Immunohistochemical staining of Egr-1 was performed and the quantitation results of Egr-1positive cells were shown in panel (e). Representative images were shown in panel (f). Pink arrows indicate Egr-1positive cells. Scale bar = 50 μm. ^∗𝑃<0.05 versus sham control; ^#𝑃<0.05 versus IR; ^∗∗𝑃<0.01 versus sham control; ^##𝑃<0.01 versus IR.

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