The difference in mRNA expressions of hypothalamic CCK and CCK-A and -B receptors between responder and non-responder rats to high frequency electroacupuncture analgesia.
The present study was performed to determine whether the expression levels of the hypothalamic cholecystokinin (CCK) and its receptors are associated with the responsiveness to high frequency electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia in rats. EA stimulation (100 Hz, 0.5 ms pulse width, 0.2-0.3 mA) was delivered to the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint of male Sprague-Dawley rats for 20 min without anesthetics or holder restraint. The analgesic effect of EA was quantified using a tail flick latency test, and subsequently animals were allocated to responder or non-responder groups. The hypothalamus of rats in each group was dissected and RNA was purified. The mRNA expressions of CCK, and CCK-A and -B receptor were determined by real-time RT-PCR. CCK mRNA levels were not significantly different in the two groups, whereas both CCK-A and -B receptors were significantly more expressed in non-responders. These results suggest that the level of CCK receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, rather than CCK mRNA, has an important relationship with the individual variations to high frequency EA analgesia in rats.
Department of East-West Medicine, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, South Korea.
Eun-Sang
ES
Ko
Sun Kwang
SK
Kim
Jung-Taek
JT
Kim
Giseog
G
Lee
Jae-Bok
JB
Han
Sam-Woong
SW
Rho
Moo-Chang
MC
Hong
Hyunsu
H
Bae
Byung-Il
BI
Min
D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043886:Receptor, Cholecystokinin A / Q000737:chemistry*; D043887:Receptor, Cholecystokinin B / Q000737:chemistry*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012844:Sincalide / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043886:Receptor, Cholecystokinin A; D043887:Receptor, Cholecystokinin B; D012844:Sincalide