Molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on neuropathic pain
摘要
Acupuncture has been used to treat neuropathic pain for a long time,but its mechanisms of action remain unknown.In this study,we observed the effects of electroacupuncture and manua acupuncture on neuropathic pain and on ephrin-B/EphB signaling in rats models of chronic constriction injury-induced neuropathic pain.The results showed that manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity following chronic constriction injury,especially electroacupuncture treatment.Real-time PCR results revealed that ephrin-B1/B3and EphB1/B2 mRNA expression levels were significantly increased in the spinal dorsal horns of chronic constriction injury rats.Electroacupuncture and manual acupuncture suppressed the high expression of ephrin-B1 mRNA,and elevated EphB3/B4 mRNA expression.Electroacupuncture significantly enhanced the mRNA expression of ephrin-B3 and EphB3/B6 in the dorsal horns of neuropathic pain rats.Western blot results revealed that electroacupuncture in particular,and manual acupuncture,significantly up-regulated ephrin-B3 protein levels in rat spinal dorsal horns The results of this study suggest that acupuncture could activate ephrin-B/EphB signaling in neuropathic pain rats and improve neurological function.