Effect of Electroacupuncture on the Expression of Adenosine A1Receptor in Hypothalamus and Spinal Cord of Adjuvant Arthritis Rats / 上海针灸杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the effect of adenosine A1 receptor on pain and electroacupuncture analgesia, and to explore the action mechanism of electroacupuncture in analgesia.Method Adjuvant arthritis rats were taken as the study subjects. 24 rats were randomized into a normal group, a model group and an electroacupuncture (EA) group, 8 rats in each group. The pain threshold was evaluated by using thermal radiation method, immunohistochemical method and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR were adopted to observe the expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord.Result One day after modeling, the pain thresholds of right hind paw in the model group and EA group were significantly changed compared to that before modeling in the same group (P<0.01). The pain thresholds of right hind paw in the model group and EA group were significantly different from that in the normal group one day after modeling (P<0.01). 7 d after modeling, the pain threshold of right hind paw in the model group was still significantly lower than that before modeling in the same group (P<0.01), and it was significantly different from that in the normal group and EA group (P<0.01). The pain threshold was significantly enhanced in the EA group 7 d after modeling, and was significantly different from that of 1 d after modeling in the same group (P<0.01). The positive cell expression was lower in the model group and was significantly different from that in the normal group (P<0.01). The expression of adenosine A1 receptor in the EA group was markedly higher than that in the model group (P<0.01). The expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord of the model group was significantly lower than that of the normal group (P<0.01). The expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord of EA group was markedly higher than that of the model group (P<0.01).Conclusion EA can up-regulate the expression of adenosine A1 receptor in hypothalamus and spinal cord of adjuvant arthritis rats.