Effect of moxibustion on M2 and P2X3 receptors of bladder tissue in rats with neurogenic bladder of detrusor areflexia after lumbar-sacral spinal cord injury / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effect of moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Shenque" (CV 8) on acetylcholine (Ach), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and muscarinic-type choline receptor (M2) and purine receptor P2X3 in bladder tissue in the rats with neurogenic bladder (NB) of detrusor areflexia after lumbar-sacral spinal cord injury and explore the underlying mechanism of moxibustion for promoting detrusor contraction.@*METHODS@#Sixty SD rats were randomly divided into a model preparation group (n=45) and a sham-operation group (n=15). In the model preparation group, the modified Hassan Shaker spinal cord transection method was used to prepare the model of NB. In the sham-operation group, the spinal cord transection was not exerted except laminectomy and spinal cord exposure. Among the rats with successfully modeled, 30 rats were selected and divided randomly into a model group and a moxibustion group, with 15 rats in each one. On the 15th day after the operation, moxibustion was applied at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Shenque" (CV 8) in the moxibustion group, 10 min at each acupoint, once a day. The consecutive 7-day treatment was as one course and the intervention for 2 courses was required. Urodynamic test was adopted to evaluate bladder function in rats. Using HE staining, the morphological changes in bladder tissue were observed. The content of Ach and ATP in bladder tissue was measured with biochemical method, and the protein and mRNA expression levels of M2 and P2X3 receptors in bladder tissue were detected with Western blot and real-time fluorescence quantification PCR method.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the sham-operation group, the maximum bladder capacity, leakage point pressure and bladder compliance were increased in the rats of the model group (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the maximum bladder capacity, the leakage point pressure and bladder compliance were decreased in the rats of the moxibustion group (P<0.05). In the model group, the detrusor fibres were arranged irregularly, bladder epithelial tissues were not tightly connected and cell arrangement was disordered, combined with a large number of vacuolar cells. In the moxibustion group, compared with the model group, the detrusor fibres were arranged regularly, bladder epithelial cells were well distributed and vacuolar cells were reduced. Compared with the sham-operation group, the content of Ach and ATP in bladder tissue was decreased (P<0.05), the protein and mRNA expression levels of M2 and P2X3 receptors were reduced (P<0.05) in the model group. In the moxibustion group, the content of Ach and ATP in bladder tissue was increased (P<0.05) and the protein and mRNA expression levels of M2 and P2X3 receptors were increased (P<0.05) as compared with the model group.@*CONCLUSION@#Moxibustion at "Guanyuan" (CV 4) and "Shenque" (CV 8) may effectively improve bladder function in the rats with NB of detrusor areflexia after lumbar-sacral spinal cord injury and its underlying mechanism is related to promoting the release of Ach and up-regulating the expression of M2 receptor, thereby enhancing the release of ATP and increasing the expression of P2X3 receptor. Eventually, detrusor contraction is improved.

THE CYTOARCHITECTURE OF DORSAL COMMISSURE NUCLEUS OF THE SACRAL SPINAL CORD IN CAT / 解剖学报

The Nissl and Golgi staining methods and electron microscopy were u(?)o investigate the architecture of dorsal commissure nucleus (DCN) of the sacral spinal cord in cat. A morphologically specific nucleus could be identified in the medial part of the lamina Ⅵ of dorsal horn. The nucleus located beside the dorsal funiculus at the lumbar level and gradually moved toward the midline of the dorsal gray commissure in the ventromedial direction as the dorsal gray commissure enlarged at the segments S_(1-2) and two ellipsoid nuclei was formed at the two sides of the midline. A large triangular nucleus was gradually formed by fusion of the two nuclei at S_3-Co_1. Golgi stain positive neurons could be classified into three types: (1) small-triangular neurons (60%); (2) fusiform neurons (30%); (3) oval and irregular neurons (10%). The cell organells of most neurons were plentiful. The cell nucleus was irregular and often with deep invaginations. A large number of free ribosomes and saccules could be found in the canals formed by the nuclear invagination. There were axo-dentritic, axo-axonic, axo-somatic synaptic contacts in the DCN with percentages of 89%, 6%, and 5% respectively. The serial synapse, axo-spinous synapse and crest synapses could also be found.

THE SECONDARY AFFERENT PATHWAY OF PELVIC VISCERAL SENSATION / 解剖学报

2?l 10% ricin were injected into the pelvic nerve of cats. After 3～5 survival days 20% HRP solution was injected into the ipsilateral lateral parabrachial nucleus, 2～3 days later the animals were perfused with paraformaldehyde and glutaraldehyde, the brain and spinal cord were removed and processed for light and electron microscopy. It was confirmed that the primary afferent terminals (degenerated) of pelvic nerve formed axo-dendritic and axo-somatic synapses with the retrograde labelled neurons projected to the lateral parabrachial nucleus which were located in the dorsal commissure nucleus (DCN), intermediolateral nucleus (IML) and lamina Ⅰ of sacral spinal cord. Hence, the secondary afferent pathway of pelvic visceral sensation, as. indicated at the ultrastructural level, might originate from DCN, IML and lamina Ⅰ of sacral spinal cord and project to the lateral parabrachial nucleus.