Optical monitoring of pain relief after electroacupuncture with different stimulation parameters in neuropathic rats

Abstract

Purpose: Acupuncture has been used as a therapeutic tool in East Asia for over 2000 years. Acupuncture treatment has been shown to be effective for some neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous acupuncture studies on PD have mostly focused on figuring out how acupunctureprotects fromtoxins suchasMPTP. This approach is based on the broadly accepted assumption that neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) are irreversibly degenerated in PD. However, we have recently discovered that astrocytic GABA which inhibits dopaminergic (DA) neurons can induce PD motor symptoms in the absence of neuronal death. Therefore, whether post-acupuncture treatment following MPTP administration can alleviate motor symptoms or not remains to be tested. Methods: Immunohistochemistry, electrophysiology and vertical grid test were used. Results: Here we report that acupuncture treatment at GB34 after 48hours after MPTP administration significantly reduces astrocytic reactiveness and increased GABA release. These changes lead to a significant rescue of DA neuronal firing and release of dopamine in striatum. Consequently, acupuncture treatment alleviates the motor symptoms. Conclusion: Our study provides the first evidence that acupuncture acts through modulation of astrocytic reactiveness and gliotransmitter release to alleviate PD motor symptoms. Contact: Min-Ho Nam, dr.namminho@gmail.com