Exploring the Mechanism of Intraorbital Electroacupuncture in Promoting Repair of Oculomotor Nerve Injury in Rats Based on Ferroptosis

YAO Bing1, LI Yuan1, LIU Tongyan2, FANG Shanshan1, ZHOU Lingyun1

Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (9) : 509-531.

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Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction ›› 2026, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (9) : 509-531. DOI: 10.16780/j.cnki.sjssgncj.20241391

Exploring the Mechanism of Intraorbital Electroacupuncture in Promoting Repair of Oculomotor Nerve Injury in Rats Based on Ferroptosis

  • YAO Bing1, LI Yuan1, LIU Tongyan2, FANG Shanshan1, ZHOU Lingyun1
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Abstract

Objective: To observe the effect of intraorbital electroacupuncture on nerve function in a rat model of oculomotor nerve injury and explore its underlying mechanism in oculomotor nerve functional reconstruction from the perspective of ferroptosis. Methods: A total of 108 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into six groups: blank group, sham-operation group, model group, electroacupuncture group, inducer group, and (electroacupuncture + inducer) group, with 18 rats in each group. Assessments were conducted at postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, with 6 rats evaluated at each time point. An oculomotor nerve injury model was established (the sham-operation group only involved exposure of the nerve). The electroacupuncture group received daily electroacupuncture stimulation of the periorbital muscles for 20 minutes for 14 consecutive days postoperatively. General condition, oculomotor nerve function, and mitochondrial ultrastructure (examined via electron microscopy) were evaluated in each group at postoperative days 1, 7, and 14, along with the detection of ferroptosis-related indicators. At postoperative day 14, Western blot analysis was performed to detect GPX4 and SLC7A11. Results: There were no significant differences in all indicators between the blank group and the sham-operation group. On postoperative day 1, no significant differences were observed between the electroacupuncture group and the model group. However, on postoperative days 7 and 14, all indicators in the electroacupuncture group showed significant improvement compared to the model group. The model group exhibited significant injury at all time points compared to the sham-operation group. The injury in the model group was less severe than that in the inducer group. On postoperative day 1, there were no differences between the (electroacupuncture + inducer) group and the inducer group. On postoperative days 7 and 14, the (electroacupuncture + inducer) group showed significant improvement compared to the inducer group. On postoperative day 1, the model group exhibited mitochondrial atrophy and reduced cristae, while the electroacupuncture group showed milder injury, the inducer group exhibited severe injury, and the (electroacupuncture + inducer) group showed morphological abnormalities. On postoperative day 7, the model group demonstrated significant mitochondrial atrophy and cristae loss, the electroacupuncture group showed injury, the inducer group exhibited persistent swelling and rupture, and the (electroacupuncture + inducer) group showed partial recovery compared to the inducer group but still exhibited abnormalities. On postoperative day 14, the model group still showed mitochondrial atrophy and cristae loss, the electroacupuncture group had mitochondria close to normal, the inducer group exhibited progressive swelling and rupture, and the (electroacupuncture + inducer) group showed significant improvement compared to the inducer group but still had defects (incomplete membrane repair and disordered cristae). Conclusion: Intraorbital electroacupuncture may promote the recovery of oculomotor nerve function in rats by regulating the expression of Fe2+, MDA, GSH, GPX4, and SLC7A11, improving mitochondrial structure, and reducing ferroptosis.

Key words

intraorbital electroacupuncture; oculomotor nerve injury; ferroptosis; repair mechanism

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YAO Bing1, LI Yuan1, LIU Tongyan2, FANG Shanshan1, ZHOU Lingyun1. Exploring the Mechanism of Intraorbital Electroacupuncture in Promoting Repair of Oculomotor Nerve Injury in Rats Based on Ferroptosis[J]. Neural Injury and Functional Reconstruction. 2026, 21(9): 509-531 https://doi.org/10.16780/j.cnki.sjssgncj.20241391
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