Electroacupuncture Alleviates Hyperalgesia by Regulating CB1 Receptor of Spinal Cord in Incisional Neck Pain Rats

Acupuncture therapy is effective in relieving postoperative pain of neck surgery, but its underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study, in the incisional neck pain rat model, was designed to explore whether the endocannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) in the cervical spinal cord is involved in the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) or not.The incisional neck pain model was established by making a longitudinal incision and applied EA treatment of Futu (LI18), Hegu-Neiguan (LI4-PC6), or Zusanli-Yanglingquan (ST36-GB34) for pain relief. The results showed that EA LI18 and EA LI4-PC6 effectively relieve allodynia caused by neck incision, which was obviously better than EA ST34-GB34 ( P < 0.05). After EA, the expression levels of CB1 mRNA at 4h in the EALI18 group, and 24 and 48h in both EALI18 and EALI4-PC6 groups, and those of CB1 protein at 4, 24, and 48h in the EALI18 group, and the immunoactivity of CB1 in both EALI18 and EALI4-PC6 groups at 4h were significantly upregulated in contrast to those of the model group ( P < 0.05). EA of either acupoint group had no effect on the expression of CB2 protein ( P > 0.05). Moreover, the antinociceptive effect of EA was reversed by AM251 (CB1 antagonist). Immunofluorescence dual staining showed that CB1 expressed in astrocytes in the superficial layer (laminae I and II) of dorsal horns of the cervical spinal cord. Therefore, the findings of this study revealed that upregulation of CB1 expression in the cervical spinal cord contributes to the analgesic effect of EA in incisional neck pain rats. The CB1 receptor expresses on astrocytes.

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Spinal Endogenous Acetylcholine Contributes to the Analgesic Effect of Systemic Morphine in Rats

Anesthesiology ◽

10.1097/00000542-200108000-00039 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 525-530 ◽

Cited By ~ 73

Author(s):

Shao-Rui Chen ◽

Hui-Lin Pan

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Receptor Antagonist ◽

Analgesic Effect ◽

Antinociceptive Effect ◽

Intrathecal Injection ◽

Radiant Heat ◽

Cholinergic Receptor ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Withdrawal Latency ◽

Aziridinium Ion

Background Systemic morphine is known to cause increased release of acetyicholine in the spinal cord. Intrathecal injection of the cholinergic receptor agonists or acetyicholinesterase inhibitors produces antinociception in both animals and humans. In the present study, we explored the functional importance of spinal endogenous acetylcholine in the analgesic action produced by intravenous morphine. Methods Rats were implanted with intravenous and intrathecal catheters. The antinociceptive effect of morphine was determined by the paw-withdrawal latency in response to a radiant heat stimulus after intrathecal treatment with atropine (a muscarinic receptor antagonist), mecamylamine (a nicotinic receptor antagonist), or cholinergic neurotoxins (ethylcholine mustard aziridinium ion [AF64A] and hemicholinium-3). Results Intravenous injection of 2.5 mg/kg morphine increased significantly the paw-withdrawal latency. Intrathecal pretreatment with 30 microg atropine (n = 7) or 50 microg mecamylamine (n = 6) both attenuated significantly the antinociceptive effect of morphine. The inhibitory effect of atropine on the effect of morphine was greater than that of mecamylanilne. Furthermore, the antinociceptive effect of morphine was significantly reduced in rats pretreated with intrathecal AF64A (n = 7) or hemicholinium-3 (n = 6) to inhibit the high-affinity choline transporter and acetylcholine synthesis. We found that intrathecal AF64A reduced significantly the [3H]hemicholinium-3 binding sites but did not affect its affinity in the dorsal spinal cord. Conclusions The data in the current study indicate that spinal endogenous acetylcholine plays an important role in mediating the analgesic effect of systemic morphine through both muscarinic and nicotinic receptors.

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Paddle lead cervical spinal cord stimulation for failed neck surgery syndrome

Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery ◽

10.1016/j.clineuro.2013.07.002 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 115 (10) ◽

pp. 2254-2256 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Srinivas Chivukula ◽

Nestor D. Tomycz ◽

John J. Moossy

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Spinal Cord Stimulation ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Neck Surgery

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GABAergic Inhibition of Spinal Cord Dorsal Horns Contributes to Analgesic Effect of Electroacupuncture in Incisional Neck Pain Rats

Journal of Pain Research ◽

10.2147/jpr.s242330 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol Volume 13 ◽

pp. 1629-1645

Author(s):

Jun-ying Wang ◽

Wan-zhu Bai ◽

Yong-hui Gao ◽

Jian-liang Zhang ◽

Cheng-lin Duanmu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Analgesic Effect ◽

Gabaergic Inhibition ◽

Dorsal Horns ◽

Spinal Cord Dorsal

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Electroacupuncture Attenuates 5′-Guanidinonaltrindole-Evoked Scratching and Spinal c-Fos Expression in the Mouse

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/319124 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-12

Author(s):

Yi-Hung Chen ◽

Han-Yin Yang ◽

Chia-Hsien Lin ◽

Nae J. Dun ◽

Jaung-Geng Lin

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Receptor Antagonist ◽

Opioid Receptor ◽

Receptor Agonist ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Superficial Layer ◽

Lateral Side ◽

Opioid Receptor Antagonist ◽

Opioid Receptor Agonist ◽

Fos Expression

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) on compulsive scratching in mice and c-Fos expression elicited by subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of a known puritogen, 5′-guanidinonaltrindole (GNTI) to the neck. Application of EA to Hegu (LI4) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints at 2 Hz, but not 100 Hz, attenuated GNTI-evoked scratching. In mice pretreated with the µ opioid receptor antagonist naloxone, EA 2 Hz did not attenuate GNTI-evoked scratching, whereas EA at 2 Hz did attenuate GNTI-evoked scratching in mice pretreated with theκopioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine. Moreover, intradermal (i.d.) administration of the selective µ opioid receptor agonist [d-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-enkephalin acetate (DAMGO) attenuated GNTI-evoked scratching behavior, while s.c. administration of DAMGO was ineffective. GNTI provoked c-Fos expression on the lateral side of the superficial layer of the dorsal horn of the cervical spinal cord. Application of 2 Hz EA to LI4 and LI11 decreased the number of c-Fos positive nuclei induced by GNTI. It may be concluded that application of 2 Hz EA to LI4 and LI11 attenuates scratching behavior induced by GNTI in mice and that the peripheral µ opioid system is involved, at least in part, in the anti-pruritic effects of EA.

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Cervical Myelopathy

Spinal Neurosurgery ◽

10.1093/med/9780190887773.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 63-70

Author(s):

Randall J. Hlubek ◽

Nicholas Theodore

Keyword(s):

Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽

Computed Tomography ◽

Spinal Cord ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Mr Imaging ◽

Neck Pain ◽

Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Ct Myelography ◽

Weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Cervical spondylotic myelopathy is compression of the cervical spinal cord secondary to degenerative changes. Symptoms, which include gait disturbance, upper extremity paresthesia, weakness, and loss of dexterity, tend to progress gradually. The diagnosis of cervical spondylotic myelopathy cannot be made without imaging. T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging allows for careful inspection of the spinal cord and can reveal hyperintensity that may represent myelomalacia secondary to chronic compression. Computed tomography (CT) myelography may be useful in patients for whom MR imaging is contraindicated. Flexion and/or extension cervical radiographs should be obtained for any patient who reports neck pain.

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Alterations in the number of motoneurons containing immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)& choline acetyltransferase(ChAT) in the cervical spinal cord of the wobbler mouse during the development of the motoneuron disease

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100141226 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 970-971

Author(s):

L. Vacca-Galloway ◽

Y.Q. Zhang ◽

P. Bose ◽

S.H. Zhang

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Early Stage ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Wild Type Mouse ◽

Reflex Response ◽

Mouse Strains ◽

Behavioral Tests ◽

Wobbler Mouse ◽

Stage 4 ◽

Stage 1

The Wobbler mouse (wr) has been studied as a model for inherited human motoneuron diseases (MNDs). Using behavioral tests for forelimb power, walking, climbing, and the “clasp-like reflex” response, the progress of the MND can be categorized into early (Stage 1, age 21 days) and late (Stage 4, age 3 months) stages. Age-and sex-matched normal phenotype littermates (NFR/wr) were used as controls (Stage 0), as well as mice from two related wild-type mouse strains: NFR/N and a C57BI/6N. Using behavioral tests, we also detected pre-symptomatic Wobblers at postnatal ages 7 and 14 days. The mice were anesthetized and perfusion-fixed for immunocytochemical (ICC) of CGRP and ChAT in the spinal cord (C3 to C5).Using computerized morphomety (Vidas, Zeiss), the numbers of IR-CGRP labelled motoneurons were significantly lower in 14 day old Wobbler specimens compared with the controls (Fig. 1). The same trend was observed at 21 days (Stage 1) and 3 months (Stage 4). The IR-CGRP-containing motoneurons in the Wobbler specimens declined progressively with age.

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