Effect And Mechanism Of Electroacupuncture And Gap Juntion Communication

Part one: Effects of Gap Junction Communication on the Changes of Pain Threshold and Contents of Neurotransmitters in Rat Epidermis and Spinal Cord Induced by Electroacupuncture.To observe the effects of Gap Junction inhibitor on changing the pain thresholds and the content of the NO, glutamate, and monoamine neurotransmitters in the acupoints and spinal dorsal horn in the rats after electroacupuncture(EA). 45 Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: placebo group, EA+ placebo group and EA+ Aacetic acid-Sodium acetate group, 15 rats in each group. In the period of 13 days, the skin, between the"Huantiao"(GB30) and"Yanglinquan"(GB34) along the"Zushaoyangdanjing"Meridian of the right hind limb, was sheared and painted unction every day, electrical stimulations were given to bilateral GB30 via stainless-steel needles with frequencies of 2Hz~16Hz each other day, Pain thresholds were determined before and after EA. On the morning of the 13th day, fluorimetric analysis was used to determine 5-HT, NE and E, and spectrophotometory to NO and glutamate of samples obtained from bilateral GB34 and spinal dorsal horn.Results:It seems that Gap Junctions'inhibitors can make significant difference in the decreased level of glutamate in the spinal dorsal horn and acupoint, increased level of 5-HT in the acupoint, compared with EA+ placebo group, however, there was no significant differences in NO, NE, E. It also shows that the pain thresholds in EA+ inhibitor group are lower than that in EA+ placebo group.Gap Junctions is possibly related with PSM (propagated sensation along meridian). There are still a plenty of scientific scrutiny to need for addressing the essence of meridians.Part two: Study on the Relation between the Effect of Electroacupuncture's Transfer and Gap Junction Communication along the Meridian with Real-time Whole-body Optical Imaging in the Intact Nude MiceTo observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on fluorescent dye diffusion along meridian and whose relation with gap junction communication. After 5 minutes of low-current, low-frequency (3mA～5mA, 2Hz)EA, at identifiable points similar to the acupoint of"Quze"(PC3), the nude mice were injected with fluorescence at same points. Serial measurements of fluorescence diffuseness were visualized by real-time whole-body optical imaging in the 0.3cm-1.6cm range.Results:1. In contrast to the group of simply dyes, the group of EA significantly increased the linear diffusion of fluorescent dye along Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin(P<0.05).2. Compared with the group of EA+ placebo group ,the group of EA+ Aacetic acid-Sodium acetate group smearing with acetous cream along Pericardium Meridian of Hand-Jueyin for blocking the gap junctions, the linear diffusion of fluorescent dye shortened clearly(P<0.05).3. At the acupoint of"Quze",injecting with the blockers of gap junction (including heptanol, acetic acid)and suramine(ATP P2 receptor antagonist),RP96395-1 (substance P NK-1 receptor antagonist)and EGTA (Ca2+-chelated drug), the stream of the fluorescent dye diffusion were inhibited(P<0.05); EGTA was significantly better than that of acetic acid, suramine,RP96395-10 and heptanol(P<0.01).The effect of electroacupuncture(EA) at acupoint of"Quze"can induce fluorescent dye diffusing along the meridian;Gap junctions channels of endermic may play an role in the effect of EA;The enhancement of EA on fluorescent dye diffusing along meridian may be related to gap junction,Ca2+ ,ATP,substance P, and so on.