Effect of acupotomy on nitric oxide synthase and beta-endorphin in third lumbar vertebrae transverse process syndrome model rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the long-term effects and pain relief mechanism of acupotomy by observing changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in the hypothalamus, spinal cord, and peripheral blood of rats with third lumbar vertebrae (L3) transverse process syndrome.


METHODS
Twenty-eight SD rats were randomly assigned to normal, model, electroacupuncture (EA), and acupotomy group. The last three groups were put through an operation to emulate L3 transverse process syndrome. Fourteen days after the simulation operation, EA and acupotomy treatments were applied to the respective groups. Fifty-six days after the simulation operation, biochemistry tests and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to measure NOS and beta-EP in the hypothalamus, spinal cord, and peripheral blood.


RESULTS
Rats with the simulation operation showed significantly higher levels of NOS and beta-EP in the hypothalamus, spinal cord, and peripheral blood than those in the normal group. The EA and acupotomy groups had significantly lower levels of NOS and beta-EP than those in the model group. There was no statistical difference between the EA and acupotomy groups.


CONCLUSIONS
EA and acupotomy treatments significantly lowered NOS and beta-EP levels in the hypothalamus, spinal cord, and peripheral blood and alleviated L3 transverse process syndrome.
Changqing
C
Guo
Naigang
N
Liu
Xiaohong
X
Li
Hongmei
H
Sun
Bo
B
Hu
Jing
J
Lu
Yan
Y
Guo
Chuxi
C
Liang
Hong
H
Xu
Haixia
H
Wu
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase