Effects of injection of anti-corticotropin release hormone serum in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture analgesia on pain threshold in rats with adjuvant arthritis

Rat models of adjuvant arthritis were established, and anti-corticotropin release hormone serum injection in the lateral ventricles and electroacupuncture at right Jiaji (EX-B2) were performed. The pain threshold was decreased at 45 and 60 minutes after injection of the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. Electroacupuncture at Jiaji can resist this effect. Immunohistochemical staining results showed that the expression of corticotropin release hormone in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus was greater in the electroacupuncture + anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group compared with the anti-corticotropin release hormone serum group. The expression of corticotropin release hormone was correlated with the pain threshold. The effect of endogenous corticotropin release hormone in pain modulation can be obstructed by anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesia of electroacupuncture can partially resist the depressed pain threshold caused by injection of anti-corticotropin release hormone serum. The analgesic effect of electroacupuncture is associated with the corticotropin release hormone content in the hypothalamus.

[Study on "Hegu (LI 4) regulates face and mouth" based on palmomental reflex]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the correlation between hand and face-mouth, so as to provide nerve reflex basis for the theory "Hegu (LI 4) regulates face and mouth".

METHODS

Seven hundred and sixty-three participants who met the inclusive criteria were divided into different age groups. The skin around participants' thenar eminence was gently scraped to be observed whether there was an involuntary movement around the face or mouth, which was palmomental reflex. The results of palmomental reflex were recorded.

RESULTS

The total occurrence rate of palmomental reflex was 46.26%. For those who were 0 to 1 years old, the palmomental reflex was all positive; for those who were 21 to 36 years old, the positive rate was 20.45%, which was the lowest; for those who were 65 to 85 years old, more than half of them were positive. The majority of those who were 0 to 2 years old were bilateral positive palmomental reflex, while the majority of those who were 65 to 85 years old were unilateral positive palmomental reflex.

CONCLUSION

There is a certain connection between hand and face-mouth. The occurrence rate of palmomental reflex changes from high to low over age increasing, and then changes from low to high with the aging, presenting a "high-low-high" U-shaped curve, which is possible related to the growth and recession of nervous system.

[Overview of researches on the underlying mechanism of that "Hegu (LI 4) is indicated for orofacial disorders"]

It has been well documented in Chinese acupuncture medicine that "Hegu (LI 4) is indicated for orofacial problems". In the present paper, the authors analyze their correlation from the learning of modern medicine and results of recent experimental studies instead of traditional meridian theory of acupuncturology. The afferent nerve fibers from the LI 4 region and the orofacial part ascend to the spinal cord, nucleus of solitary tract, reticular formation, thalamus and the cerebral cortex, respectively, and overlap in the thalamus, cerebral cortex, etc. Under the circumstances, the interaction and functional integration of the afferent signals from LI 4 acupoint and the orofacial region may occur in the central nervous system. In addition, many relevant neuroactive substances (for example, serotonin, substance P, enkephalin, y-aminobutyric acid, glycine, calcitonin gene-related peptide, etc.) released from the sensory and motor neurons in the corresponding cerebral regions may constitute part of the substantial basis of that "Hegu (LI 4) is indicated for many orofacial disorders".

[Neuroanatomical characteristics of acupoint "Chengshan" (BL 57) in the rat: a cholera toxin subunit B conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 method study]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate neuroanatomical characteristics of the primary sensory afferent and the motor neurons coming from and innervating acupoint "Chengshan" (BL 57) area in the rat by using cholera toxin subunit B conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488 (CTB-Alexa 488), a new generation of fluorescent neural tracing reagent.

METHODS

Four male SD rats were used in the present study. Under anesthesia, 0.05% CTB-Alexa 488 (5 ML) was injected into the central part of the rear of the hind leg, a corresponding site of "Chengshan" (BL 57) in the human body. After 40-48 surviving hours, the rat's brain, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of the lumbar segments (L1-L6) were dissected following perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde, cut into sections and observed under fluorescent microscope equipped with a digital camera. The neurons labeled by CTB-Alexa 488 were counted.

RESULTS

All CTB-Alexa 488 labeled neurons appeared in green under fluorescent filters of 450-490 and were located ipsilaterally on the injection side. The labeled primary sensory neurons were found in the DRGs at L4 (11 neurons) and L5 (35 neurons). Among them, 29 neurons (63.04%) were bigger, with their cell body diameters being 35-50 microm and 17 (36.96%) smaller, with their body diameters being lower than 35 microm. The labeled motor neurons were found to distribute in the mediolateral portion of lamina IX, forming a longitudinal column from L4 to L5. Of the observed 316 motor neurons, 259 (81.96%) belong to alpha type with their body diameters being 25-40 microm and 57 (18.04%) to gamma type with their body diameters being lower than 25 microm.

CONCLUSION

The CTB-Alexa 488-labeled primary sensory and motor neurons innervating acupoint "Cheng-shan" (BL 57) distribute in the DRGs of L4-L5. The present fluorescent tracing technique may be quite useful for investigating the neural characteristics of acupoints.

[Therapeutic effect of acupuncture on female's climacteric depression and its effects on DA, NE and 5-HIAA contents]

OBJECTIVE

To observe therapeutic effects of acupuncture on female's climacteric depression and to study on the mechanism. Methods Sixty cases enrolled were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a control group, 30 cases in each group. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture were given at Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Xinshu (BL 15), etc. with uniform reinforcing-reducing method, once each day, and the control group were treated with oral administration of fluexertine hydrochloride, 20 mg, once daily. HAMD scale was used for assessment before treatment and 2,4,6 weeks after treatment. Blood dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and 5-hydroxy-indoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) contents were detected before treatment and after one therapeutic course. Results The total effective rate was 86.7% in the acupuncture group and 92.9% in the control group with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, DA content increased significantly in the acupuncture group with a significant difference as compared with that of the control group (P < 0.05); and after treatment NE and 5-HIAA contents in the two groups significantly increased as compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), with no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion Acupuncture can benignly and comprehensively regulate general functions, and increase contents of monoamines in the body, so as to play the role of anti-depression.