title: [The role of connexin 43 gene in acupuncture analgesia].
abstract: 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.
authors: Institute of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors: Wei-chang
authors: WC
authors: Yu
authors: Guang-ying
authors: GY
authors: Huang
authors: Ming-min
authors: MM
authors: Zhang
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Zhang
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43