[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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Yu
Wei-chang
WC
Institute of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Huang
Guang-ying
GY
Zhang
Ming-min
MM
Zhang
Qiang
Q
Wang
Wei
W
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017288:Pain Threshold
D018031:Connexin 43