N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist inhibits NR-1 subunit phosphorylation of the spinal N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor induced by low frequency electroacupuncture.
We investigated whether the 2 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia is associated with phosphorylation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) NR-1 subunits and NMDAR antagonism in the lumbar spinal cord of rats. EA stimulation produced an increase of serine phosphorylation of NMDAR NR-1 subunits in the spinal cord as compared with normal conditions. However, the intrathecal injection of NMDAR antagonist D-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid significantly prevented serine phosphorylation of NMDAR NR-1 subunits induced by EA stimulation in the dorsal horn of spinal cord. These results indicate that EA analgesia by stimulation of peripheral nerves may be involved in an increase of NR-1 serine phosphorylation in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
Kang
Byeol-Rim
BR
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Dong-Eui University, Busan 614-052, Korea.
Ahn
Chang-Beohm
CB
Choi
Byung-Tae
BT
D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000378:metabolism*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*
D010421:Pentanoic Acids; D021122:Protein Subunits; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016202:N-Methylaspartate