The aim of this study was to determine the optimum frequency of electroacupuncture (EA) for the treatment of dysphagia after stroke. Male C57BL/6 J mice were randomly divided into five groups: normal, model, 2 Hz, 50 Hz, and 100 Hz groups. All mice received a photochemical ischemia, except the normal group. The EA parameters were 1 mA for 15 min, with different frequencies (2, 50, and 100 Hz) applied. After a three day treatment, neuronal activation was detected by the expression of c-Fos. A multi-channel electrophysiological technique was used to assess the discharge of contralateral neurons and the neuron types in each group. The concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the contralateral neurons was also examined. In addition, the dysfunction of swallowing in mice was calculated according to the lick counts and the lick–lick interval within a certain period of time. The number of c-Fos neurons (P < 0.05) and the expression of BDNF (P < 0.05) increased after the 2 Hz EA treatment. The total frequency of neuron discharge in the 2 Hz group increased compared with the model group (P < 0.05). The pattern of sorted neuron populations was similar between the normal and 2 Hz groups. Consistent with these results, the lick counts increased (P < 0.05) and the lick–lick interval decreased after the 2 Hz EA treatment, which indicated a functional improvement in swallowing. These results indicated that the 2 Hz EA treatment had a good effect on dysphagia after stroke.

本研究的目的是确定电针 (EA) 治疗中风后吞咽困难的最佳频率。雄性 C57BL/6 J 小鼠随机分为五组：正常组、模型组、2 Hz、50 Hz 和 100 Hz 组。除正常组外，所有小鼠均接受光化学缺血。EA 参数为 1 mA，持续 15 分钟，应用了不同的频率（2、50 和 100 Hz）。经过三天的治疗，通过 c-Fos 的表达检测到神经元激活。采用多通道电生理技术评估对侧神经元放电及各组神经元类型。还检查了对侧神经元中脑源性神经营养因子 (BDNF) 的浓度。此外，根据一定时间内的舔次数和舔-舔间隔计算小鼠吞咽功能障碍。c-Fos 神经元的数量 (P  < 0.05) 和 BDNF ( P  < 0.05) 的表达在 2 Hz 电针处理后增加。2 Hz组神经元放电总频率较模型组增加（P  < 0.05）。正常组和 2 Hz 组之间的分类神经元群体的模式相似。与这些结果一致，舔次数增加（P  < 0.05），舔-舔间隔在 2 Hz 电针治疗后减少，这表明吞咽功能有所改善。这些结果表明，2 Hz 电针治疗对脑卒中后吞咽困难有良好的疗效。