title: Effects of electroacupuncture at 2 and 100 Hz on rat type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain and hyperalgesia-related protein expression in the dorsal root ganglion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at 2 and 100 Hz on type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) and on the expressions of the P2X3 receptor and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat type 2 DNP was induced by a high calorie and high sugar diet fed for 7 weeks, plus a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) after 5 weeks. EA at 2 and 100 Hz was carried out once every day after 7 weeks for 7 consecutive days. Body weight, serum fasting insulin (FINS), fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin sensitivity index (ISI), and paw withdrawal latency (PWL) were measured. The expressions of L4-L6 DRG P2X3 receptors and CGRP were assessed by immunofluorescence.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Type 2 DNP was successfully induced as shown by the increased body weight, FINS, and FBG, as well as the reduced ISI and PWL. Expressions of P2X3 receptors and CGRP in L4-L6 DRGs increased. EA at both 2 and 100 Hz relieved type 2 DNP, but the analgesic effect of EA was stronger at 2 Hz. P2X3 receptor expression decreased in L4-L6 DRGs following EA at 2 Hz and in L5 and L6 DRGs following EA at 100 Hz. EA at both 2 and 100 Hz down-regulated CGRP overexpression in L4-L6 DRGs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that EA at 2 Hz is a good option for the management of type 2 DNP. The EA effect may be related to its down-regulation of the overexpressions of the DRG P2X3 receptors and CGRP in this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, the Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Fen
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, the Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, the Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Shou
authors.affiliation: Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qiao
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, the Third Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000502:physiology*; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000628:therapy*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D058477:Receptors, Purinergic P2X3; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
keywords: Calcitonin gene-related peptide; Dorsal root ganglion; Electroacupuncture; P2X3 receptor; Type 2 diabetic neuropathic pain