Effect and Mechanism of Electro-Acupuncture on Neuralgia of Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy Based on the Neuron-Gliocyte-Chemokine Signaling Pathway

Abstract

Background: Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR) is the most common type of cervical spondylosis, which mainly presents as radioactive neuralgia. Neuralgia is closely related to gliocyte in the central nervous system. Therefore, to investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of LAA (astrocyte inhibitor) electro-acupuncture on neuralgia in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy based on the neuron-gliocyte-chemokine signaling pathway. Material & Methods: The models of rats with neuralgia in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were established and the intervention of electro-acupuncture and LAA were carried out. All rats were randomly divided into 4 groups (12 rats in each group). Control group, Model group, Sham operation group and Electro-acupuncture group. Results: The rats were bound to the plate in a prone position and treated with electro-acupuncture at Jiaji point, with dense wave frequency of 50 Hz and wave repacking frequency of 10 Hz, once a day, 20 min each time, for 14 consecutive days. The results found that the content of calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP), adenylate cyclase (AC), substances P in C6–C7 primary sensory neuron terminal of the spinal cord segment were significantly decreased in electro-acupuncture group compared with model group. Relative expression of RNA levels of protein kinase (PKC), Ca2+ channel protein (VGCC, CCL2 and CXC3L1) in electro-acupuncture group were significantly decreased compared with model group. Westernblot detected that the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, NMDA and AMPA proteins in LAA+electro+acupuncture group were obvioulsy decreased. It indicates that neuralgia is closely related to gliocyte in the central nervous system, and also proves that LAA+electro acupuncture can effectively relieve neuralgia caused by cervical spondylosis.