Pei Pei1, Lu Liu2, Luo-Peng Zhao2,3, Zheng-Yang Qu2, Chu-Ying Tang4, Lin-Peng Wang2, Wenming Yang1. 1. 1 Neurology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China. 2. 2 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Beijing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. 3. 3 Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. 4. 4 Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Shenzhen Bao'an TCM Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been recommended as an alternative therapy for migraine. Emerging evidence suggests that the 5-HT7 receptor (5-HT7R) plays a significant facilitatory role in descending modulation in migraine pathophysiology, and that activation of 5-HT7R in the descending pathway is involved in migraine central sensitisation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of electroacupuncture (EA) to ameliorate central sensitisation via modulation of 5-HT7R in the descending pain pathways using a rat model of migraine induced by repetitive dural electrical stimulation (DES). DESIGN: 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Normal group; DES group (receiving dural electrical stimulation only); DES+GB20 group (DES model group treated with EA at GB20); and DES+Sham group (DES model group treated with EA at a non-traditional (sham) acupuncture point). The presence of cutaneous allodynia was determined by measuring facial and hind-paw withdrawal latencies to electronic von-Frey. The expression of 5-HT7R in the descending pathways (periaqueductal grey, raphe magnus nucleus, and trigeminal nucleus caudalis) was assessed using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. RESULTS: Facial and hind-paw withdrawal thresholds were significantly increased in the DES+GB20 group compared with the untreated DES group. The expression of 5-HT7R was significantly decreased in the DES+GB20 group compared with the DES group (one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), P<0.05). No significant differences in behaviour or expression were found between the rats in the DES+Sham group and the untreated DES group (one-way ANOVA, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at GB20 may ameliorate central sensitisation in migraine by inhibiting the activation of 5-HT7 receptors in the descending pain pathway in a rat model of migraine.
BACKGROUND: Acupuncture has been recommended as an alternative therapy for migraine. Emerging evidence suggests that the 5-HT7 receptor (5-HT7R) plays a significant facilitatory role in descending modulation in migraine pathophysiology, and that activation of 5-HT7R in the descending pathway is involved in migraine central sensitisation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the ability of electroacupuncture (EA) to ameliorate central sensitisation via modulation of 5-HT7R in the descending pain pathways using a rat model of migraine induced by repetitive dural electrical stimulation (DES). DESIGN: 64 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups: Normal group; DES group (receiving dural electrical stimulation only); DES+GB20 group (DES model group treated with EA at GB20); and DES+Sham group (DES model group treated with EA at a non-traditional (sham) acupuncture point). The presence of cutaneous allodynia was determined by measuring facial and hind-paw withdrawal latencies to electronic von-Frey. The expression of 5-HT7R in the descending pathways (periaqueductal grey, raphe magnus nucleus, and trigeminal nucleus caudalis) was assessed using immunofluorescence and Western blotting. RESULTS: Facial and hind-paw withdrawal thresholds were significantly increased in the DES+GB20 group compared with the untreated DES group. The expression of 5-HT7R was significantly decreased in the DES+GB20 group compared with the DES group (one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), P<0.05). No significant differences in behaviour or expression were found between the rats in the DES+Sham group and the untreated DES group (one-way ANOVA, P>0.05). CONCLUSION: EA at GB20 may ameliorate central sensitisation in migraine by inhibiting the activation of 5-HT7 receptors in the descending pain pathway in a rat model of migraine.
Authors: Ivan Urits; Ruben H Schwartz; Vwaire Orhurhu; Nishita V Maganty; Brian T Reilly; Parth M Patel; Christopher Wie; Alan D Kaye; Ken F Mancuso; Aaron J Kaye; Omar Viswanath Journal: Adv Ther Date: 2020-11-12 Impact factor: 3.845