Acupuncture effects on the hippocampal cholinergic system in a rat model of neuropathic pain

作者：Wang Junying; Liu Junling; Chen Shuping; Gao Yonghui; Meng Fanying; Qiao Lina

来源：Neural Regeneration Research, 2012, 7(3): 212-218.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1673-5374.2012.03.010

• acetylcholinesterase
• chronic pain
• cumulative effect
• electroacupuncture analgesia
• hippocampus
• M1R mRNA expression
• vesicular acetylcholine transporter

The present study observed the effects of repeated electroacupuncture of Zusanli (ST36) and Yanglingquan (GB34) on expression of hippocampal acetylcholinesterase, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and muscarinic M-1 receptor mRNA in chronic constrictive injury (neuropathic pain) and/or ovariotomy rats. Results demonstrated increased expression of hippocampal acetylcholinesterase, vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and muscarinic M-1 receptor mRNA, as well as decreased pain threshold, in a rat model of chronic neuropathic pain after electroacupuncture. The effects of electroacupuncture increased with prolonged time, but the above-mentioned effects decreased in memory-deficient animals. Results indicated that repeated electroacupuncture has a cumulative analgesic effect, which is closely associated with upregulation of acetylcholinesterase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter activity, as well as M-1 receptor mRNA expression and memory.

• 出版日期2012-1
• 单位中国中医科学院