缝隙连接蛋白Cx43基因在针刺镇痛中的作用

目的:探讨缝隙连接蛋白Cx43与针刺镇痛作用的相关性。方法:选用缝隙连接蛋白Cx43基因敲除小鼠,随机分为4组:野生型(widetype,WT)对照组、野生型针刺组、杂合子(heterozy-gous,HT)对照组、杂合子针刺组。分别通过热板、扭体法致痛,观察针刺对杂合子和野生型小鼠镇痛作用的不同效应。结果:杂合子和野生型小鼠的基础痛阈值差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。针刺能明显提高野生型和杂合子小鼠热板致痛的痛阈值;延长首次扭体潜伏期,减少扭体反应次数,与针刺前相比,差异分别有非常显著(P<0.01)和显著性意义(P<0.05)。针刺后,杂合子小鼠的痛阈值、首次扭体潜伏期和扭体反应次数与野生型相比,差异有显著性意义(P<0.05)。结论:敲除缝隙连接蛋白Cx43基因可部分抑制针刺镇痛效应,提示Cx43与经络及针刺镇痛效应具有一定的相关性。

The role of connexin 43 gene in acupuncture analgesia

Objective To investigate the possible relationship between the analgesic effect of acupuncture and connexin 43.Methods Connexin 43 gene knock-out mice were divided into 4 groups:a wide type(WT)control group,a WT acupuncture group,a heterozygous(HT)control group and HT acupuncture group.Hot-plate test and writhing response induced by acetic acid were used for investigating the analgesic effect of acupuncture.Results There was no significant difference in the basic pain threshold value between HT and WT mice(P>0.05).Acupuncture could significantly increase the pain threshold value,prolong the latency period of writhing body and decrease the number of writhing body as compared with pre-acupuncture in WT and HT mice(P<0.01 or P<0.05).The pain threshold,latency period of writhing and number of writhing body in HT mice were less than WT mice post-acupuncture(P<0.05).Conclusion Connexin 43 gene knock-out might partially inhibit the analgesic effect of acupuncture,suggesting that connexin 43 is possibly related with meridians and the effect of acupuncture.