title: Electroacupuncture diminishes P2X2 and P2X3 purinergic receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia of rats with visceral hypersensitivity.
abstract: Electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu (ST37) and Tianshu (ST25) can improve visceral hypersensitivity in rats. Colorectal distension was used to establish a rat model of chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia from rats with chronic visceral hypersensitivity. Results demonstrated that abdominal withdrawal reflex scores obviously increased following establishment of the model, indicating visceral hypersensitivity. Simultaneously, P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression increased in dorsal root ganglia. After bilateral electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu and Tianshu, abdominal withdrawal reflex scores and P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression decreased in rats with visceral hypersensitivity. These results indicated that electroacupuncture treatment improved visceral hypersensitivity in rats with irritable bowel syndrome by reducing P2X2 and P2X3 receptor expression in dorsal root ganglia.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Luyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Lidong
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Linying
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Yuhu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xin
keywords: P2 purinergic receptors; P2X2; P2X3; abdominal withdrawal reflex scores; acupuncture and moxibustion; electroacupuncture; grants-supported paper; irritable bowel syndrome; neural regeneration; neuroregeneration; peripheral nerve injury; photographs-containing paper; visceral hypersensitivity