[Effect of electroacupuncture on the expression of spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta in chronic neuropathic pain rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of spinal glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) in chronic constriction injury (CCI) rats.


METHODS
Seventy-two SD rats were randomized into sham operation (sham), CCI (model) and EA groups (n = 24/group). The mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were measured by using Von Frey filaments and radiant-heat irridiation separately. The immunoactivity of GFAP of spinal dorsal horn (L4-L5) was assessed by immunohistochemistry, and the expression of spinal TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA was detected by real time-PCR.


RESULTS
Compared with pre-CCI and sham group, both mechanical and thermal pain thresholds decreased considerably in rats with CCI (P < 0.05), and in comparison with model group, those of EA group increased markedly (P < 0.05). Compared with sham group, GFAP immunoactivity (mainly in the lamina I-II of the spinal dorsal horn), TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA expression in the ipsilateral spinal cord on the CCI side in model group increased considerably (P < 0.05), while compared with model group, the expression of GFAP, TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA in EA group was down-regulated remarkably (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EA can effectively suppress CCI-induced up-regulation of expression of spinal GFAP, TNF-alpha mRNA and IL-1beta mRNA, which may contribute to its effect in reducing mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in neuropathic pain rats.
Sun
Tao
T
Department of Pain Management, the Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250021, China. suntao@medmail.com.cn
Cui
Cheng-bin
CB
Luo
Jian-gang
JG
Zhang
Li
L
Fu
Zhi-jian
ZJ
Song
Wen-ge
WG
D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000628:therapy; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D015870:Gene Expression; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha