Effects of Electroacupuncture on Pain Threshold of Laboring Rats and the Expression of Norepinephrine Transporter and α2 Adrenergic Receptor in the Central Nervous System. (28th July 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tang, Qianli; Jiang, Qiuyan; Sooranna, Suren R.; Lin, Shike; Feng, Yuanyuan; Zhang, Qi; Wang, Meili; Wang, Yu
• Other Names: Duann Jeng-Ren Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2016(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-07-28
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/9068257
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on pain threshold of laboring rats and the expression of norepinephrine transporter and α 2 adrenergic receptor in the central nervous system to determine the mechanism of the analgesic effect of labor. 120 pregnant rats were divided into 6 groups: a control group, 4 electroacupuncture groups, and a meperidine group. After interventions, the warm water tail-flick test was used to observe pain threshold. NE levels in serum, NET, and α 2AR mRNA and protein expression levels in the central nervous system were measured. No difference in pain threshold was observed between the 6 groups before intervention. After intervention, increased pain thresholds were observed in all groups except the control group with a higher threshold seen in the electroacupuncture groups. Serum NE levels decreased in the electroacupuncture and MP groups. Increases in NET and α 2AR expression in the cerebral cortex and decreases in enlarged segments of the spinal cord were seen. Acupuncture increases uptake of NE via cerebral NET and decreases its uptake by spinal NET. The levels of α 2AR are also increased and decreased, respectively, in both tissues. This results in a decrease in systemic NE levels and may be the mechanism for its analgesic effects.