[Effect of acupuncture on Cx43 knock-out mice dysmenorrhea response].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of acupuncture on dysmenorrhea response of Cx43 knock out mice.


METHODS
Two-months-old heterozygote [Cx43(+/-)] type and wild type [Cx43(+/+)] female mice (20 mice/type) were allocated into normal group, model group, acupuncture group and Yimucao Gao (Extractum Leonuri Inspissatum) group randomly. Dysmenorrheal model was established by feeding the mouse with diethylstilbestrol (2 mg/g) once daily for 12 days. Ocytocin (i. p. 2 U/kg) was injected on the 12th day 1 h later after the feeding. Acupuncture of "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Diji" (SP 8) was given to mice of acupuncture group, once daily for 5 days from the 7th day on after modeling. The latency of body-writhing and the writhing number were measured. Ocytocin receptor (Oct-R) mRNA and vasopressin receptor (Vas-R) mRNA expression in the uterus tissue was detected by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, and Oct-R expression was detected with immunohistochemistry after fixating and sectioning the uterus tissue.


RESULTS
In comparison with their individual normal group, the latency of body-writhing of model groups in Cx43 (+/+) and Cx43 (+/-) mice shortened considerably, while the writhing number increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the corresponding model group, the writhing latencies of acupuncture and Yimucao Gao groups in Cx43 (+/+) mice and that of Yimucao Gao group in Cx43 (+/-) mice increased remarkably, and the writhing numbers of acupuncture and Yimucao Gao groups in Cx43 (+/+) mice and that of Yimucao Gao group in Cx43 (+/-) mice reduced markedly (P<0.05). In Cx43 (+/+) and Cx43 (+/-) mice, compared with their individual normal group, Oct-R and Vas-R mRNA expressions and Oct-R expression in model group were upregulated obviously (P<0.05). Compared with the corresponding model group, Oct-R and Vas-R mRNA expressions and Oct-R expression of acupuncture and Yimucao Gao groups in Cx43 (+/+) mice, and those of Yimucao Gao group in Cx43 (+/-) mice were down-regulated significantly (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between acupuncture and corresponding model groups in Cx43 (+/-) mice in the above-mentioned indexes (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Acupuncture can inhibit diethylstilbestrol + ocytocin induced body writhing response in Cx43 (+/+) mice rather than in Cx43 (+/-) mice, which is closely related to its effects in down-regulating Oct-R mRNA, Vas-R mRNA and Oct-R expression.
Yang
Ya-qin
YQ
Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
Huang
Guang-ying
GY
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D011897:Random Allocation; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018031:Connexin 43; D018045:Receptors, Oxytocin; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin