Abstract
BackgroundAcupuncture and moxibustion are used to treat pruritus and atopic dermatitis. However, whether cold stimulation (defined as that the temperature conducted under skin temperature) of acupoints affects itching in experimental murine models remains unclear.MethodsThe present study was designed to determine the therapeutic effects of different thermal stimulations at the Quchi acupoint (LI11) in a murine model in which scratching behaviour was elicited by subcutaneous injection with a pruritogenic agent (compound 48/80). Male ICR mice were divided into several groups as follows: control (saline), those receiving compound 48/80 and compound 48/80 with various thermal stimulations (5°C–45°C) at LI11 (n = 6 per group). The scratch response of each animal to these stimulations was recorded for 30 min. The antipruritic effect of the acupoint was further evaluated in LI11 and sham (non-acupoint) groups (n = 6 per group).ResultsTreatment with lower temperature (20°C) at the LI11 acupoint significantly attenuated compound 48/80-induced scratching; however, this antipruritic effect was not observed with stimulation at the sham point. The expression of c-fos in the neuron of the cervical spine induced by compound 48/80 was suppressed by cold stimulation at LI11. The antipruritic effect of cold stimulation was blocked by ruthium red (RR), a non-selective transient receptor potential (TRP) channel blocker, suggesting that TRP channels may play an important role in the antipruritic effect of cold stimulation at LI11 in mice.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that cold stimulation at LI11 attenuated compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviour in mice, possibly by a TRP-related pathway.
Highlights
Acupuncture and moxibustion are used to treat pruritus and atopic dermatitis
These results reveal that 20°C is an optimal temperature for cold stimulation at Quchi acupoint (LI11) for attenuating compound 48/80-induced scratching
Since ruthium red (RR) is a non-selective transient receptor potential (TRP) channel blocker, we suggest that TRP channels may play an important role in the antipruritic effect of cold stimulation at LI11 in mice [37,38,39,40]
Summary
Acupuncture and moxibustion are used to treat pruritus and atopic dermatitis. whether cold stimulation (defined as that the temperature conducted under skin temperature) of acupoints affects itching in experimental murine models remains unclear. Several clinical trials have showed that physical stimulation, such as that with needles [4], moxibustion [a traditional Chinese medicine therapy burning moxa made from dried mugwort (Artemisia argyi)], or pressing, at the correct acupoints significantly decrease pruritus [5,6,7,8]. Compound 48/80 is well known as a peripheral pruritogen It produces an itch sensation and vigorous scratching behaviour after subcutaneous (s.c.) injection; the itching causes the degranulation of mast cells and the stimulation of leukotriene B4 production [21]. Compound 48/80 elicited the itch sensation in mast cell-deficient mice.
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