[Relation of capsaicin-sensitive neurones to the effect of electro-acupuncture analgesia].
In this experiment, the rats treated with capsaicin (50 mg/kg) s. c. on day 2 of liqe were used 12 weeks after injection. The levels of substance P(SP) in sciatic nerves and dorsal spinal cords were measured with radioimmunoassay to evaluate the extent of C-afferent fibers damaged by capsaicin. The results as follows: (1) the levels of SP in the sciatic nerve and the dorsal spinal cord are decreased by 69% and by 62% respectively, indicating the degeneration of the primary C-afferent fibers is very massive; (2) the average of basal tail-flick latency (immersing in 50 degrees C water) is prolonged 105% as compared with the control; (3) after electro-acupuncture, the average of tail-flick latency of the capsaicin treated rats is increased by 81%, while that of the vehicle treated rats increased by 54%. These data suggest that C-afferent fibers substantially mediate the transmission of noxious thermal stimuli, but is unnecessary for the transmission of acupuncture message to induce analgesia.
Lu
Z
Z
Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing.
Cao
W
W
Dong
X
X
Deng
Y
Y
Zhang
T
T
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism
D013373:Substance P; D002211:Capsaicin