电针对神经病理性疼痛大鼠脊髓背角血管生成素-1的影响

目的:观察电针对脊神经损伤(SNL)大鼠行为学、脊髓背角组织形态学及脊髓血管生成素-1(Angpt-1)表达的影响,探讨电针治疗神经病理性疼痛的作用机制.方法:雄性SD大鼠随机分为假模组、模型组、电针组,每组15只.假模组仅暴露右侧腰(L)5脊神经,不结扎;模型组、电针组结扎右侧L 5脊神经建立神经病理性疼痛大鼠模型....

Effect of electroacupuncture on angiopoietin-1 in spinal cord of rats with neuropathic pain

Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the behavior, histomorphology and the expression of angiopoietin-1(Angpt-1) in rats with spinal nerve injury, so as to explore its mechanism on neuropathic pain. Methods Forty-five male SD rats were randomly divided into sham, model and EA groups(n=15 rats in each group). Spinal nerve ligation(SNL) of the L5 lumbar vertebra was performed to establish a rat model of neuropathic pain. The rats in the EA group were given EA at "Zusanli"(ST36) and "Kunlun"(BL60) of the operation side with continuous wave at a frequency of 2 Hz and an intensity of 1.5 mA once a day, 30 minutes each time for 7 days. The sham group only exposed L5 spinal nerves without ligation. Mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency(TWL) were observed and recorded before modeling and on days 3,5,7,10,12 and 14 after modeling. L4—L6 segments of spinal cord were taken and the morphological changes of spinal dorsal horn were observed by HE staining. The changes of spinal dorsal horn nerve fiber structure were observed by silver plating staining. Angpt-1 expression was detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the sham group, the model group had significant reductions in MWT and TWL at each time point(P<0.01);compared with the model group, the EA group had significant increases in MWT and TWL on days 10,12 and 14 after intervention(P<0.05, P<0.01). HE staining showed that in the model group, the spinal dorsal horn showed degeneration and necrosis of neurons, nuclear fixation and shrinkage, and loose surrounding tissues. The degree of tissue damage of the EA group was milder than that of the model group. The silver staining results showed the model group had obvious neuronal fibrillary tangles, while there were fewer neuronal fibrillary tangles in the EA group. Compared with the sham group, the Angpt-1 expression in the model group was significantly decreased(P<0.01), and compared with the model group, the EA group had a significant increase in the expression of Angpt-1(P<0.01). Conclusion EA can promote the recovery of nerve function in SNL rats by up-regulating Angpt-1 expression.