Comparison of the effect between electroacupuncture and NSAIDs on pain memory based on cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in anterior cingulate gyrus / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the direct intervention effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on pain memory, and to explore their effects on cAMP/PKA/cAMP pathway in anterior cingulate gyrus (ACC).@*METHODS@#Fifty clean healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, an indomethacin group, an EA group and a sham EA group, 10 rats in each group. Except the control group, the pain memory model was established in the remaining four groups by twice injection of carrageenan at foot; 0.1 mL of 2%λ-carrageenan was subcutaneously injected at the left foot of rats; 14 days later, when the pain threshold of rats of each group returned to the basic level, the second injection was performed with the same procedure. The rats in the EA group were treated with EA at bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 min; the rats in the indomethacin group was treated with indomethacin intragastric administration with the dose of 3 mg/kg; the rats in the sham EA group was treated with EA without electricity at the point 0.3 mm forward "Zusanli" (ST 36) with the depth of 2 mm for 30 min; the rats in the control group was not given any invention. All the above interventions were performed 5 h, 1 d, 2 d and 3 d after the second injection of 2% λ-carrageenan. The left-side paw withdrawal thresholds (PWT) were observed before the first injection, 4 h, 3 d, 5 d after the first injection, before the second injection and 4 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d after the second injection. Three days after the second injection, the number of positive cells of cAMP, p-PKA, p-CREB and the number of positive cells of protein co-expression in the right ACC brain area were detected by immunofluorescence, and the relative protein expression of p-PKA and p-CREB were detected by Western blot.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the PWTs in the model group decreased significantly 4 h, 3 d and 5 d after the first injection and 1 d, 2 d and 3 d after the second injection (<0.05); compared with the control group, the positive expression of cAMP, p-PKA and p-CREB in the right ACC brain area in the model group increased significantly (<0.05), and the number of positive cells of the co-expression of cAMP/p-PKA and p-PKA/p-CREB also increased significantly (<0.05). Compared with the model group, indomethacin group and sham EA group, the PWTs in the EA group were increased significantly 1 d, 2 d and 3 d after the second injection (<0.05); compared with the model group, indomethacin group and sham EA group, the positive expression of p-PKA and p-CREB in the right ACC brain area in the EA group decreased significantly (<0.05), and the number of positive cells of co-expression of cAMP/p-PKA and p-PKA/p-CREB was decreased significantly (<0.05). Compared with the model group and sham EA group, the positive expression of cAMP in the right ACC brain area was decreased in the EA group (<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#EA have a direct intervention effect on pain memory, which have significant advantage over NSAIDs in the treatment of chronic pain. The advantage effect of EA on pain memory may be related to the inhibition of cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway in ACC area.

Electroacupuncture in Treating Severe Functional Constipation：A Randomized Controlled Trial / 上海针灸杂志

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture in treating severe functional constipation. Method Seventy patients with severe functional constipation were randomized into a treatment group (35 cases) and a control group (35 cases). The treatment group was intervened by deeply needling bilateral Tianshu (ST25) and Fujie (SP14) with electrical stimulation in addition to ordinary acupuncture at bilateral Shangjuxu (ST37);the control group was by superficially needling the areas beside bilateral Tianshu, Fujie and Shangjuxu with sham electroacupuncture. The two groups were both treated for successive 8 weeks and were followed up for another 3 months. The complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), Bristol stool form Scale (BSFS) and difficulty in bowel movements were observed every week. Result The two groups both showed significant improvements in average weekly CSBMs (P0.05). Conclusion Electroacupuncture can improve CSBMs in severe functional constipation, but it’s insignificantly different from sham acupuncture in improving stool form and defecation difficulty.

Comparisons of expression of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase in different levels of anterior cingulate cortex in the rat with neuropathic pain / 解剖学报

Objective To observe the distribution features of phosphorylated p 44/42 extracellular signal-regulated kinase(p-ERK) induced by affective pain in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of the rat.Methods Twelve male SD rats were randomly divided into the control group (n=6) and spinal nerve ligation (SNL) group (n=6).The rats of the SNL group were exposed to unilateral L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL) surgery.The behavior was examined by mechanical pain thresholds (MPTs) and the pain affect was measured using open-field test, elevated zero maze.The expressions of p-ERK in ACC (AP 3.2,2.7,2.2mm from Bregma) were detected with immunofluorescence test .Results In comparison with the control group , the unilateral mechanical pain threshold in the SNL group decreased significantly after operation . The operation also resulted in pronounced anxiety-like behavior .The p-ERK labelled cells in different levels of ACC ( AP 3.2,2.7,2.2mm from Bregma) of SNL rats were (11.89 ±2.57),(32 ±4.67 ) and (17.56 ±2.04 ), respectively, while the control group rats were (12.44 ±2.16),(10 ±0.87 ) and (10.11 ±1.36).These data indicated that compared with the control group, the expressions of p-ERK in ACC(AP 2.7,2.2mm from Bregma) increased significantly in the SNL group after operation(P0.05).Conclusion The results suggest that the neuropathic pain can result in anxiety-like behavior and increased expressions of p-ERK in ACC of the rat.This change may be closely related to the expressions of p-ERK in ACC(AP 2.7,2.2mm from Bregma), but not to the level of ACC(AP 3.2mm from Bregma).

Correlation between mechanical pain threshold and local blood perfusion in male rat models of acute inflammation induced by carrageenan / 中国比较医学杂志

Objective To explore the relationship between mechanical withdrawal threshold ( MWTs) and local cutaneous blood perfusion ( BP ) in rats with acute inflammation induced by carrageenan.Methods Twenty male Sprague-Dawley ( SD) rats were randomly divided into control and model groups.The acute inflammatory rat model was established by subcutaneously injecting with carrageenan into the left hindpaw.MWTs were measured by Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer 37450 before injection ( as base) of carrageenan and at 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h after carrageenan injection. The local cutaneous BP was detected by Pericam Perfusion Speckle Imager ( Pericam PSI) at the time after measuring of MWTs.The above two behaviors were compared and the relationship between them was analyzed.Results MWTs of the model group rats were decreased while BP significantly increased than that in the control group ( P<0.01 ) .The MWTs and BP in the model rats showed a negative correlation, especially the correlation index showed significant differences at 4 h and 72 h after carrageenan injection ( P<0.01) .Conclusions Carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in rats causes significant changes in mechanical pain threshold, which has a negative correlation with local cutaneous blood perfusion.