ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of wrist-ankle acupuncture (WA) stimulation at "R4"- "R5" - "R6" on the expression of glutamate (Glu) and phosphorylated protein NMDAR1(p-NMDAR1) of the spinal dorsal horn in spared nerve injury (SNI) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of SNI. METHODS: A total of 36 SD rats were randomly divi-ded into sham operation, model and WA groups, with 12 rats in each group. The SNI procedure comprised an axotomy and ligation of the tibial and common peroneal nerves leaving the sural nerve intact. Rats of the WA group were treated by acupuncture at "R4"-"R5"-"R6" points from the 5th day to the 14th day after modeling. The mechanical pain thresholds were measured before and 5, 10 and 14 d after SNI, respectively. The cold allodynia was dectected by Acetone solution dropped onto the lateral plantar surface of the paw. Glu content and p-NMDAR1 expression of spinal dorsal horn were detected by 1H-MRS, ELISA and immunohistochemistry Methods. RESULTS: Compared with the sham operation group, the mechanical pain threshold of the model group was significantly decreased (P<0.01), the duration of cold stimulation foot contraction was increased (P<0.01), and the Glu content and p-NMDAR1 expression in the spinal dorsal horn were significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). After WA intervention, the mechanical pain threshold was significantly increased (P<0.01), the duration of cold stimulation was significantly shortened (P<0.01), and Glu content and p-NMDAR1 protein expression of spinal dorsal horn were decreased significantly (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the WA group compared with the model group. CONCLUSION: WA can reduce pain sensitivity in rats with neuropathic pain, possibly by inhibiting the expression of Glu and p-NMDAR1 in the spinal dorsal horn.
ABSTRACT
The correlation between meridians and viscera is the key content of the meridian theory in acupuncture medicine. This paper introduces the close relationship between the meridians running on the body surface and viscera from ancient lite-rature, modern experimental studies (such as acupoint sensitization, neuro-endocrine-immune networks, etc.), and clinical application in the treatment of various conditions with acupuncture, moxibustion, Guasha (scraping) therapies, etc. We also presented some related research ideas (i.e., taking the clinical treatment as the forerunner, paying more attention to multi-disciplinary integration, combining clinical and basic research together, doing research from tridimensional point of review, and making full use of advanced technology, etc.) in order to provide a possibly favorable help for researchers to further reveal the scientific mechanisms underlying correlation between the meridian and viscera in the future.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Quantitative analysis the regional specificity and time dependence of Ciclosporin (CsP) on gingival tissue modality of rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Eighty SPF grade male Wistar rats of 7 weeks old were randomly divided into experimental group and control group, and each group was divided into 4 subgroups according to the duration of treatment (10, 20, 30 and 40 days). The experimental objects were given intragastric administration of fresh milk including CsP, and the control ones were given intragastric administration of fresh milk the same as the experimental objects. After giving perfusion 4% paraform trans-heart to internal fixation, the specimens were get and made bucco-lingual paraffin sections at lower first molar and made HE staining. The area of buccal and lingual gingival epithelial and connective tissue, the length of the longest rete pegs were measured with the image analysis system. Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance of factorial design.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rats of the experimental group took place gingival overgrowth, and the rete pegs of gingival epithelium of attached gingiva approach muco-gingival junction were prolonged. The area of buccal and lingual gingival epithelium and connective tissue, the length of buccal longest rete pegs of the experimental group were significantly higher than that of the control group rats (bucca P < 0.01, lingua 0.01 < P < 0.05). The length of lingual longest rete pegs of the experimental group were no difference than that of the control group rats. The area of buccal and lingual gingival epithelial, connective tissue, the length of longest rete pegs among experimental groups were no difference.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CsP may have the regional specificity on the rats' gingival epithelium of buccal attached gingiva approach muco-gingival junction, but the effect of CsP on the rats' gingiva was no time dependence.</p>