Yonsei Med J.  2006 Jun;47(3):359-366. 10.3349/ymj.2006.47.3.359.

Antiallodynic Effects of Acupuncture in Neuropathic Rats

• Cha MH
• Choi JS
• Bai SJ
• Shim I
• Lee HJ
• Choi SM
• Lee BH

• KMID: 1715854
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2006.47.3.359

Abstract

Peripheral nerve injury often results in abnormal neuropathic pain such as allodynia or hyperalgesia. Acupuncture, a traditional Oriental medicine, has been used to relieve pain and related symptoms. However, the efficiency of acupuncture in relieving neuropathic pain is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-allodynic effects of acupuncture through behavioral and electrophysiological examinations. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to neuropathic surgery consisting of a tight ligation and transection of the left tibial and sural nerves, under pentobarbital anesthesia. The acupuncture experiment consisted of four different groups, one treated at each of three different acupoints (Zusanli (ST36), Yinlingquan (SP9), and a sham-acupoint) and a control group. Behavioral tests for mechanical allodynia and cold allodynia were performed for up to two weeks postoperatively. Extracellular electrophysiological recordings were made from the dorsal roots using platinum wire electrodes. Mechanical and cold allodynia were significantly reduced after acupuncture treatment at the Zusanli and Yinlingquan acupoints, respectively. Electrophysiological neural responses to von Frey and acetone tests were also reduced after acupuncture at the same two acupoints. These results suggest that acupuncture may be beneficial in relieving neuropathic pain.

Keyword

Neuropathic pain; acupuncture; acupoint; allodynia; electrophysiology

MeSH Terms

Spinal Nerve Roots/*physiology
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Rats
Neuralgia/physiopathology/*therapy
Male
Electrophysiology
Animals
*Acupuncture Analgesia

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Effects of acupuncture at the Zusanli, Yinlingquan and sham-acupoints on neuropathic pain. A: Mechanical allodynia. There were statistically significant differences in the responses to von Frey filament between the Zusanli acupuncture group and the control/sham acupoint group at 90 and 150 min after termination of acupuncture. B: Cold allodynia. There were statistically significant differences in the responses to acetone application between the Yinlingquan acupuncture group and the no-acupuncture control/sham-acupoint group at 90, 120 and 150 min after termination of acupuncture. The data are expressed as the changes in the mean response rates. Statistical analysis was done using a one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's (2-sided) post-hoc multiple comparison test. A * denotes p < 0.05 as compared with control group. A † denotes p < 0.05 as compared with sham-acupoint group. N = 15 in each group.

• 

  Fig. 2 Representative responses of dorsal root filaments to mechanical and cold stimulation following acupuncture at different acupoints. A shows the no-acupuncture group. B shows the Zusanli group. C shows the Yinlingquan group. A ▾ denotes von Frey stimulation, and a ▿ denotes acetone application.

• 

  Fig. 3 Neural responses of the dorsal root filaments to von Frey and acetone stimulation after acupuncture at the Zusanli or Yinlingquan acupoint, and no-acupuncture. A shows the responses to von Frey stimulation, and B the responses to acetone stimulation. Data are expressed as the mean ± S.E.M. Statistical analysis was done using a one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett's (2-sided) post-hoc multiple comparison test. A * denotes p < 0.05 and a † denotes p < 0.01. N = 9 for each group.

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