Acupuncture improves neuronal ferroptosis and synaptic damage in a rat model of traumatic brain injury

The neuropathologic process underlying secondary brain injury post-TBI is complex, and neurotransmitter changes and synaptic plasticity damage are the main potential factors. N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) has been reported to be closely related to synaptic plasticity. Acupuncture can inhibit ferroptosis of nerve cells and enhance synaptic plasticity. This study aims to elucidate the effects of acupuncture on reducing neuronal ferroptosis, reducing synaptic damage, and improving secondary brain injury after TBI. The results showed that the mNSS scores of the TBI group were significantly higher than those in the Sham group. Rotarod test duration, as well as the frequency and time of platform crossing in the TBI group, were significantly reduced compared to the Sham group. Ferroptosis and synaptic damage injury increased after TBI. Acupuncture can reverse the above results and reduce the expression of the activated NMDAR post-TBI. Acupuncture can alleviate synaptic damage and restore neural function deficit after TBI, which may play an anti-ferroptosis role by inhibiting NMDAR.