[Effect of lysis of acupotomology on plasma vasoactive substance levels in rats with third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of small needle-knife lysis on plasma calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), endothelin (ET), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha), thromboxane A2 (TXA2) contents in rats with experimental third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome (TLVTPS) so as to explore its underlying mechanism in clinical treatment.


METHODS
Forty SD rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, lysis and EA groups. TLVTPS model was established by embedding a piece of gelatin sponge (0.5 cm x 0.5 cm) to the transverse process of the 3rd lumbar vertebra under anesthesia. EA (2/100 Hz, 1-2 mA) was applied to left "Shenshu" (BL23) -"Yaoyangguan" (GV3) for 20 min, once every other day, 6 times altogether. For animals of lysis group, the lysis was performed by using a small needle-knife in the induration spot or cord-like region near the incision, once a week and twice altogether. Four weeks later after modeling, plasma CGRP, ET, 6-keto-PGF1alpha and TXA2 contents were detected by using radioimmunoassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
Compared with normal control group, plasma CGRP, ET, TXA2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha increased significantly in model group (P<0.01); in comparison with model group, plasma CGRP, TXA2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha in both EA and lysis groups decreased considerably (P<0.05, 0.01). No significant differences were found between EA and lysis groups in plasma CGRP, ET and 6-keto-PGF1alpha levels (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both EA and lysis of acupotomology have an adjusting effect on vasoactive substances (CGRP, TXA2 and 6-keto-PGF1alpha) levels in TLVTPS rats, which may contribute to their effects in improving local blood circulation and relieving soft tissue injury in the treatment of third lumbar vertebra transverse process syndrome.
College of Acu-moxibustion, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. guochangqing666@yahoo.com.cn
Chang-Qing
CQ
Guo
Nai-Gang
NG
Liu
Xiao-Hong
XH
Li
Hong-Mei
HM
Sun
Jing
J
Lu
Hui-Fang
HF
Ma
Zhan-Lu
ZL
Chen
Bo
B
Hu
Lin
L
Liu
Han-Zhang
HZ
Zhu
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000097:blood*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D013577:Syndrome; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000097:blood*
D016232:Endothelins; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide