Abstract
Electroacupuncture (EA) has effective analgesic effects. Our previous study demonstrated that the upregulation of P2X3 receptors in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) might participate in heroin withdrawal-induced hyperalgesia. The aim of this study is to further explore whether 2 Hz EA reduces heroin relapse associated with its analgesic effect and whether P2X3 receptors in the DRG are involved in this process. 2 Hz EA was adopted to treat the heroin SA rats in the present study. Heroin-seeking and pain sensitivity were evaluated. The expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG was detected. Our results showed that compared with the control group, the reinstatement, thermal hyperalgesia, and mechanical allodynia of the heroin-addicted group were increased significantly. The expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG was increased markedly. After being treated using 2 Hz EA, reinstatement was reduced, hyperalgesia was decreased, and the upregulated expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG had decreased significantly compared to that in the heroin-addicted group. Consequently, our results indicated that 2 Hz EA was an effective method for treating heroin-induced hyperalgesia and helping prevent relapse, and the potential mechanism might be related to the downregulation of P2X3 receptor expression in the DRG.
Highlights
Ere is still a lack of evidence to support the notion that 2 Hz EA reduces heroin relapse via its analgesic effect by affecting the expression of P2X3 receptors in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG)
BioMed Research International addition, we demonstrated that the expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG was increased obviously in the development of peripheric hyperalgesia induced by heroin withdrawal in heroin SA rats [16]
We demonstrated that 2 Hz EA, but not sham EA, reduced the hyperalgesia induced by heroin and contributed to prevention relapse. is effect was partially associated with the downregulation of the expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG. e neurobiological mechanisms underlying opioid relapse and craving are complex [2]
Summary
Ere is still a lack of evidence to support the notion that 2 Hz EA reduces heroin relapse via its analgesic effect by affecting the expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG. Erefore, in the present study, 2 Hz EA was adopted to treat heroin SA model rats. E rate of heroin relapse was evaluated with a reinstatement experiment, and the pain sensitivities were examined using paw thermal and mechanical withdrawal tests. E expression of P2X3 receptors in the DRG was observed using immunofluorescence. Our results will partly elucidate the analgesic effect of 2 Hz EA that may assist in suppressing heroin relapse and the potential mechanism through P2X3 receptors in the DRG
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