Comparison of the Effects of Wet Cupping Therapy and Exercise on Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor Expression in Stroke-animal Model

Introduction: Cupping therapy has been widely utilized as a complementary therapy, including in the treatment of stroke. This study aims to compare the effects of wet cupping therapy and exercise on brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in animal models of stroke. Materials and methods: This study employed a post-test-only control group design. Twenty-four 3-month-old male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sham group (n=6), stroke group (n=6), stroke+cupping group (n=6), and stroke+exercise group (n=6). Stroke animal models were induced by unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO). Wet cupping therapy was administered twice a week for three weeks to the stroke+cupping group. In contrast, the stroke+exercise group participated in swimming activities scheduled for 20 minutes per day, three times a week over the same three-week period. Results: The mean of nerve cells expressing BDNF in the sham group was 41.33±22.17; the stroke group was 17.66±11.03; the stroke+cupping group was 24.50±26.82; and the stroke+exercise group was 60.16±30.94. Analysis of multiple comparisons among groups proved that there were no significant differences in BDNF expression between the stroke and sham group (p=0.102) and between the stroke+cupping and stroke group (p=0.626). Meanwhile, the BDNF expression in the stroke+exercise group was significantly higher than in the stroke group (p=0.06). Apart from that, the BDNF expression in the stroke+exercise group was significantly higher than stroke+ cupping group (p=0.018). Conclusion: In the stroke animal model, exercise demonstrated greater efficacy in upregulating the expression of BDNF compared to wet cupping therapy.