Electroacupuncture Relieves CCI-Induced Neuropathic Pain Involving Excitatory and Inhibitory Neurotransmitters.

Chun-Ping Huang,Ching-Liang Hsieh,Yi-Wen Lin,Der-Yen Lee

doi:10.1155/2019/6784735

Abstract

Neuropathic pain caused by peripheral tissue injuries to the higher brain regions still has no satisfactory therapy. Disruption of the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is one of the underlying mechanisms that results in chronic neuropathic pain. Targeting neurotransmitters and related receptors may constitute a novel approach for treating neuropathic pain. We investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on chronic constriction injury- (CCI-) induced neuropathic pain. The mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia pain behaviors were relieved by 15 Hz EA but not by 2 and 50 Hz. These phenomena were associated with increasing γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) receptors in the hippocampus and periaqueductal gray (PAG) but not N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Furthermore, excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate was decreased in the hippocampus and inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA was increased in the PAG under treatment with EA. These data provide novel evidence that EA modulates neurotransmitters and related receptors to reduce neuropathic pain in the higher brain regions. This suggests that EA may be a useful therapy option for treating neuropathic pain.

Highlights

Neuropathic pain is usually defined as pain caused by a lesion or dysfunction of the somatosensory nervous system, either peripherally or centrally, and is a notably complicated pain disorder
NMDA receptor mediation of central sensitization is a major component of neuropathic pain in the spinal cord [3]
EA that applies to Hua Tuo Jia Ji can reduce constriction injury- (CCI-)induced neuropathic pain and can increase the levels of GABAA receptor in spinal cord [17]

Summary

Research Article

Neuropathic pain caused by peripheral tissue injuries to the higher brain regions still has no satisfactory therapy. Disruption of the balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters is one of the underlying mechanisms that results in chronic neuropathic pain. Targeting neurotransmitters and related receptors may constitute a novel approach for treating neuropathic pain. We investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on chronic constriction injury- (CCI-) induced neuropathic pain. E mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia pain behaviors were relieved by 15 Hz EA but not by 2 and 50 Hz. ese phenomena were associated with increasing c-amino-butyric acid (GABA) receptors in the hippocampus and periaqueductal gray (PAG) but not N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Ese data provide novel evidence that EA modulates neurotransmitters and related receptors to reduce neuropathic pain in the higher brain regions. Is suggests that EA may be a useful therapy option for treating neuropathic pain

Introduction

Experimental Procedures

Results

15Hz EA