OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of bilateral "Futu" (LI 18) on the immunoactivity of substance P (SP), NK-1 receptor (R), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT2 AR in the cervical spinal dorsal horn of rats with neck incision pain, so as to explore its underlying mechanism in relieving incision pain. METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, model (incision pain), EA-Futu(LI 18), and EA-Zusanli(ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34, EA-ST 36-GB 34) groups (n = 10/group). A 1.5 cm longitudinal incision was made along the middle of the neck in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Pain threshold (PT) was measured using radiant heat. EA (1-2 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz) was applied to bilateral LI 18, ST 36-GB 34 for 30 min. The expression of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1, 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT2 AR in the spinal cord (C1-C4) tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After the operation, the thermal PT was decreased obviously in markedly after treatment (P < 0.05), and no significant changes were found in PT in EA-ST 36-GB 34 group (P > 0.05). The immunoactivity of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1 in the superficial dorsal horn in model group was increased significantly and that of 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR significantly and mildly, separately compared with control group (P < 0.05). In comparison with model group, the immunoreactivity of SP, NK-1 R and COX-1 was decreased considerably, and that of 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR was upregulated remarkably in EA-LI 18 group (P < 0.05). No significant changes were found in the immunoactivity of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1, 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR in EA-ST 36-GB 34 group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA-Futu (LI 18) can significantly suppress pain reaction of neck incision in the rat, which is closely associated with its effects in downregulating the expression of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1 and upregulating that of 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR in the spinal dorsal horn.
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) of bilateral "Futu" (LI 18) on the immunoactivity of substance P (SP), NK-1 receptor (R), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT2 AR in the cervical spinal dorsal horn of rats with neck incision pain, so as to explore its underlying mechanism in relieving incision pain. METHODS: A total of 40 Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, model (incision pain), EA-Futu(LI 18), and EA-Zusanli(ST 36)-Yanglingquan (GB 34, EA-ST 36-GB 34) groups (n = 10/group). A 1.5 cm longitudinal incision was made along the middle of the neck in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Pain threshold (PT) was measured using radiant heat. EA (1-2 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz) was applied to bilateral LI 18, ST 36-GB 34 for 30 min. The expression of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1, 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT2 AR in the spinal cord (C1-C4) tissue were detected with immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: After the operation, the thermal PT was decreased obviously in markedly after treatment (P < 0.05), and no significant changes were found in PT in EA-ST 36-GB 34 group (P > 0.05). The immunoactivity of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1 in the superficial dorsal horn in model group was increased significantly and that of 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR significantly and mildly, separately compared with control group (P < 0.05). In comparison with model group, the immunoreactivity of SP, NK-1 R and COX-1 was decreased considerably, and that of 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR was upregulated remarkably in EA-LI 18 group (P < 0.05). No significant changes were found in the immunoactivity of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1, 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR in EA-ST 36-GB 34 group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: EA-Futu (LI 18) can significantly suppress pain reaction of neck incision in the rat, which is closely associated with its effects in downregulating the expression of SP, NK-1 R, COX-1 and upregulating that of 5-HT 1 AR and 5-HT 2 AR in the spinal dorsal horn.