Effects of Electroacupuncture Intervention on Expression of Cyclooxygenase 2 and Microglia in Spinal Cord in Rat Model of Neuropathic Pain

• 来源期刊: 中国结合医学杂志（英文版）
• 年，卷（期）: 2017,（10）
• 页码范围: 786-792
• 页数: 7页
• 语种: 英文
• DOI: 10.1007/s11655-016-2606-y

摘要

Objective:To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on the expression of cydooxygenase (COX) 2 and microglia in spinal cord by using rat model of neuropathic pain,and to probe into the relationship between COX 2 and microglia.Methods:The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups,including normal control group,model group,sham group,EA 1 group (distant acupoints + local acupoints),EA 2 group (local acupoints),and EA 3 group (distant acupoints).Thermal withdrawal latencies were evaluated at 1 day preoperatively and 3,5 and 7 days postoperatively.At 7 days postoperatively,the spinal COX 2 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction.Double immunofluorescent staining technology was applied to screen and verify the relationship between altered COX 2 and microglia.Results:Compared with the model group,thermal withdrawal latencies increased after EA treatment (P＜0.01).The expressions of COX 2 mRNA were up-regulated in spinal cord of rat on day 7 after surgery (P＜0.05).Compared with the model group,EA stimulation (EA 1 and EA 2 groups) reversed the up-regulation of COX 2 mRNA expression (P＜0.05).EA 1 and EA 2 groups might have better treatment effect compared with the EA 3 group.Fluorescent images displayed COX 2 and micreglia expressed at common areas.Conclusions:EA was effective in analgesic and anti-inflammatory.EA has decreased the expression of spinal COX 2 mRNA in the trend of the therapeutic effect of "distant acupoints + local acupoints",and "local acupoints" intervention may be superior to that of "distant acupoints" intervention.Microglia may be related to the formation of COX 2.