The role of connexin 43 gene in acupuncture analgesia / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the possible relationship between the analgesic effect of acupuncture and connexin 43.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Connexin 43 gene knock-out mice were divided into 4 groups a wide type (WT) control group, a WT acupuncture group, a heterozygous (HT) control group and HT acupuncture group. Hot-plate test and writhing response induced by acetic acid were used for investigating the analgesic effect of acupuncture.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was no significant difference in the basic pain threshold value between HT and WT mice (P > 0.05). Acupuncture could significantly increase the pain threshold value, prolong the latency period of writhing body and decrease the number of writhing body as compared with pre-acupuncture in WT and HT mice (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The pain threshold, latency period of writhing and number of writhing body in HT mice were less than WT mice post-acupuncture (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Connexin 43 gene knock-out might partially inhibit the analgesic effect of acupuncture, suggesting that connexin 43 is possibly related with meridians and the effect of acupuncture.</p>