Electroacupuncture inhibits inflammatory edema and hyperalgesia through regulation of cyclooxygenase synthesis in both peripheral and central nociceptive sites.
We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on carrageenan-induced inflammatory model in association with peripheral and spinal COX-2 expression. EA with 2, 15 and 120 Hz, especially 2 Hz, had significant inhibitory effects on the developing of edema and hyperalgesia, which was measured in 30-min intervals after carrageenan injection. Therefore, we investigated whether the effect of 2 Hz EA on carrageenan-induced edema and hyperalgesia is associated with peripheral and spinal expression of inflammatory proteins. The expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was inhibited by 2 Hz EA in carrageenan-injected rat paws. Interestingly, we found that the mRNA of COX-1 and COX-2 expression in the spine was not induced by 2 Hz EA treatment after carrageenan-induced peripheral inflammation. In addition, synthesis of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) was partially inhibited by 2 Hz EA treatment in both peripheral and spinal nociceptive regions. In conclusion, EA treatment might be a useful therapy for mitigation of inflammatory edema and hyperalgesia through regulation of COX-2 expression in both peripheral and central nociceptive sites.
Lee
Jun-Hyuk
JH
Department of Anatomy, College of Oriental Medicine, Dong-Eui University, Busan 614-052, Korea.
Jang
Kyung-Jeon
KJ
Lee
Yong-Tae
YT
Choi
Yung-Hyun
YH
Choi
Byung-Tae
BT
D000818:Animals; D002351:Carrageenan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002351:Carrageenan; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone