title: "Three Methods and Three Points" regulates p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in a rat model of sciatic nerve injury.
abstract: Tuina is a traditional Chinese treatment for sensory disturbances caused by peripheral nerve injury and related diseases. Our previous studies showed that tuina regulates relevant regions and indices of the spinal dorsal horn using theDian,Bo, andRoumethod inYinmen(BL37),Yanglingquan(GB34), andWeizhong(BL40). Treatment prevents muscle atrophy, protects spinal cord neurons, and promotes sciatic nerve repair. The mechanisms of action of tuina for treating peripheral nerve injury remain poorly understood. This study established rat models of sciatic nerve injury using the crushing method. Rats received Chinese tuina in accordance with the principle of "Three Methods and Three Points," once daily for 20 days. Tuina intervention reduced paw withdrawal latency and improved wet weight of the gastrocnemius muscle, as well as promoting morphological recovery of sciatic nerve fibers, Schwann cells, and axons. The protein expression levels of phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β also decreased. These findings indicate that "Three Methods and Three Points" promoted morphological recovery and improved behavior of rats with peripheral nerve injury.
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5455-5833
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tian-Yuan
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2089-3101
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Steven
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Duan
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Tao-Tao
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Qian
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: College of Taditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Li
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
keywords: Three Methods and Three Points; dorsal horn of the spinal cord; interleukin-1β; nerve regeneration; neural regeneration; phospho-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase; sciatic nerve injury; tuina; tumor necrosis factor-α