Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of electroacupuncture intervention on expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and microglia in spinal cord in rat model of neuropathic pain

  • Acupuncture Research
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment on the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) 2 and microglia in spinal cord by using rat model of neuropathic pain, and to probe into the relationship between COX 2 and microglia.

Methods

The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, including normal control group, model group, sham group, EA 1 group (distant acupoints + local acupoints), EA 2 group (local acupoints), and EA 3 group (distant acupoints). Thermal withdrawal latencies were evaluated at 1 day preoperatively and 3, 5 and 7 days postoperatively. At 7 days postoperatively, the spinal COX 2 mRNA was detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Double immunofluorescent staining technology was applied to screen and verify the relationship between altered COX 2 and microglia.

Results

Compared with the model group, thermal withdrawal latencies increased after EA treatment (P<0.01). The expressions of COX 2 mRNA were up-regulated in spinal cord of rat on day 7 after surgery (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, EA stimulation (EA 1 and EA 2 groups) reversed the up-regulation of COX 2 mRNA expression (P<0.05). EA 1 and EA 2 groups might have better treatment effect compared with the EA 3 group. Fluorescent images displayed COX 2 and microglia expressed at common areas.

Conclusions

EA was effective in analgesic and anti-inflammatory. EA has decreased the expression of spinal COX 2 mRNA in the trend of the therapeutic effect of "distant acupoints + local acupoints", and "local acupoints" intervention may be superior to that of "distant acupoints" intervention. Microglia may be related to the formation of COX 2.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhuo M, Wu G, Wu LJ. Neuronal and microglial mechanisms of neuropathic pain. Mol Brain 2011;4:31–42.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. Smith WL, Garavito RM, DeWitt DL. Prostaglandin endoperoxide H synthases (cyclooxygenases)-1 and-2. J Biol Chem 1996;271:33157–33160.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. McAdam BF, Mardini IA, Habib A, Burke A, Lawson JA, Kapoor S, et al. Effect of regulated expression of human cyclooxygenase isoforms on eicosanoid and isoeicosanoid production in inflammation. J Clin Invest 2000;105:1473–1482.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Willingale HL, Gardiner NJ, McLymont N, Giblett S, Grubb BD. Prostanoids synthesized by cyclo-oxygenase isoforms in rat spinal cord and their contribution to the development of neuronal hyperexcitability. Br J Pharmacol 1997;122:1593–1604.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  5. Seybold VS, Jia YP, Abrahams LG. Cyclo-oxygenase-2 contributes to central sensitization in rats with peripheral inflammation. Pain 2003;105:47–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Omair A, Holden M, Lie BA, Reikeras O, Brox JI. Treatment outcome of chronic low back pain and radiographic lumbar disc degeneration are associated with inflammatory and matrix degrading gene variants: a prospective genetic association study. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2013;14:105–113.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhou XY, Xu YY, Xie ZH, Xu JP, Bi JZ. The research progress of inflammatory response and nervous system degenerative disease. Chin J Gerontol (Chin) 2012;32:196–199.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Streit WJ, Mrak RE, Griffin WS. Microglia and neuroinflammation: a pathological perspective. J Neuroinflammation 2004;1:14–17.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Tsuda M, Inoue K, Salter MW. Neuropathic pain and spinal microglia: a big problem from molecules in "small" glia. Trends Neurosci 2005;28:101–107.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Ji RR, Suter MR. p38 MAPK, microglial signaling, and neuropathic pain. Mol Pain 2007;3:33–41.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhao LY, Jiang HL, Ren XJ, Tu Y. Effects of electroacupuncture on pain-related behaviors and pathologic changes on spinal nerve root and dorsal root ganglion in rat model of lumbar disc herniation. J Beijing Univ Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2014;37:551–555.

    Google Scholar 

  12. International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP). IASP guidelines for the use of animals in research. Retrieved September 07, 2016. Available at:http://www.iasp-pain.org/ Education/Content.aspx?ItemNumber=1217

  13. Jiang HL, Yu X, Ren XJ, Fang TY, Tu Y. Effect of electroacupuncture at distal-proximal acupoint combinations on spinal interleukin-1 beta in a rat model of neuropathic pain. J Tradit Chin Med Sci 2015;2:45–51.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Zhang LF, ed. Experimental acupuncture science. Beijing: Chemical Industry Publisher; 2010:219–224.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang YQ, Ji GC, Wu GC, Zhao ZQ. Excitatory amino acid receptor antagonists and electroacupuncture synergetically inhibit carrageenan-induced behavioral hyperalgesia and spinal fos expression in rats. Pain 2002;99:525–535.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Long XQ, Jiang HL, Ren XJ, Ji LL, Tu Y. Development of researches on mechanisms of acupoint combination for some disorders in nerve-humoral-immunological modulation. Acupunct Res 2015;40:314–318.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jiang HL, Ji LL, Ren XJ, Long, Tu Y. Exploration of acupuncture prescriptions for chronic low back pain: a review of ancient and modern literature. J Beijing Univ Tradit Chin Med (Chin) 2015;38:280–283.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Yermakova A, O'Banion MK. Cyclooxygenases in the central nervous system: implications for treatment of neurological disorders. Curr Pharm Des 2000;6:1755–1776.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Miyamoto H, Saura R, Doita M, Kurosaka M, Mizuno K. The role of cyclooxygenase-2 in lumbar disc herniation. Spine 2002;27:2477–2483.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Banati RB, Gehrmann J, Schubert P, Kreutzberg GW. Cytotoxicity of microglia. Glia 1993;7:111–118.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Ji RR, Strichartz G. Cell signaling and the genesis of neuropathic pain. Sci STKE 2004;252:reE14.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Di Y, Li WY. Research advances in the role microglia`s surface receptors in neuropathic pain. Med Recapitu 2013;19:1108–1111.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Henry CJ, Huang Y, Wynne A, Hanke M, Himler J, Bailey MT, et al. Minocycline attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation, sickness behavior, and anhedonia. J Neuroinflammation 2008;5:15–28.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Lin LL, Wartmann M, Lin AY, Knopf JL, Seth A, Davis RJ. cPLA2 is phosphorylated and activated by MAP kinase. Cell 1993;72:269–278.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Samad TA, Moore KA, Sapirstein A, Billet S, Allchorne A, Poole S, et al. Interleukin-1 beta-mediated induction of COX-2 in the CNS contributes to inflammatory pain hypersensitivity. Nature 2001;410:471–475.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Zhang F, Vadakkan KI, Kim SS, Wu LJ, Shang Y, Zhuo M. Selective activation of microglia in spinal cord but not higher cortical regions following nerve injury in adult mouse. Mol Pain 2008;4:15–30.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Li-li Ji, Meng-wei Guo, Xiu-jun Ren & Ya Tu

  2. School of Basic Medical Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China

    Dong-yu Ge & Gen-mao Li

Authors
  1. Li-li Ji
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Meng-wei Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Xiu-jun Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Dong-yu Ge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Gen-mao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Ya Tu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xiu-jun Ren.

Additional information

Supported by the Project of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, China (No. JYB22-JS022)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ji, Ll., Guo, Mw., Ren, Xj. et al. Effects of electroacupuncture intervention on expression of cyclooxygenase 2 and microglia in spinal cord in rat model of neuropathic pain. Chin. J. Integr. Med. 23, 786–792 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2606-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11655-016-2606-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation