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Yang Y, Qu JY, Guo H, Zhou HY, Ruan X, Peng YC, Shen XF, Xiong J, Wang YL. Electroacupuncture at Sensitized Acupoints Relieves Somatic Referred Pain in Colitis Rats by Inhibiting Sympathetic-Sensory Coupling to Interfere with 5-HT Signaling Pathway. Chin J Integr Med 2024; 30:152-162. [PMID: 38038835 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-023-3565-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at sensitized acupoints could reduce sympathetic-sensory coupling (SSC) and neurogenic inflammatory response by interfering with 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)ergic neural pathways to relieve colitis and somatic referred pain, and explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS Rats were treated with 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution for 7 days to establish a colitis model. Twelve rats were randomly divided into the control and model groups according to a random number table (n=6). According to the "Research on Rat Acupoint Atlas", sensitized acupoints and non-sensitized acupoints were determined. Rats were randomly divided into the control, model, Zusanli-EA (ST 36), Dachangshu-EA (BL 25), and Xinshu (BL 15) groups (n=6), as well as the control, model, EA, and EA + GR113808 (a 5-HT inhibitor) groups (n=6). The rats in the control group received no treatment. Acupuncture was administered on 2 days after modeling using the stimulation pavameters: 1 mA, 2 Hz, for 30 min, with sparse and dense waves, for 14 consecutive days. GR113808 was injected into the tail vein at 5 mg/kg before EA for 10 min for 7 consecutive days. Mechanical sensitivity was assessed with von Frey filaments. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores of rats were determined. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to observe colon histopathology. SSC was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect 5-HT and substance P (SP) expressions. The calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in skin tissue and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein levels in DRG were detected by Western blot. The levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), bradykinin (BK), prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) in skin tissue, 5-HT, tryptophan hydroxylase 1 (TPH1), serotonin transporters (SERT), 5-HT 3 receptor (5-HT3R), and 5-HT 4 receptor (5-HT4R) in colon tissue were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS BL 25 and ST 36 acupoints were determined as sensitized acupoints, and BL 15 acupoint was used as a non-sensitized acupoint. EA at sensitized acupoints improved the DAI score, increased mechanical withdrawal thresholds, and alleviated colonic pathological damage of rats. EA at sensitized acupoints reduced SSC structures and decreased TH and CGRP expression levels (P<0.05). Furthermore, EA at sensitized acupoints reduced BK, PGI2, 5-HT, 5-HT3R and TPH1 levels, and increased HA, 5-HT4R and SERT levels in colitis rats (P<0.05). GR113808 treatment diminished the protective effect of EA at sensitized acupoints in colitis rats (P<0.05). CONCLUSION EA at sensitized acupoints alleviated DSS-induced somatic referred pain in colitis rats by interfering with 5-HTergic neural pathway, and reducing SSC inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Jin-Yu Qu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Hua Guo
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Hai-Ying Zhou
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Xia Ruan
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Ying-Chun Peng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Xue-Fang Shen
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Jin Xiong
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China
| | - Yi-Li Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China.
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, China.
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