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Acupuncture at Both ST25 and ST37 Improves the Pain Threshold of Chronic Visceral Hypersensitivity Rats

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Abstract

Previous studies demonstrated the efficacy of electro-acupuncture (EA) in relieving chronic visceral hypersensitivity (CVH) in IBS rats. However, ST25 which is a key acupoint for patients with IBS has not been reported in these experiments. Eight CVH rats were treated by EA at both ST25 and ST37 for 20 min, once daily for seven consecutive days, model rats (n = 8) and normal rats (n = 8) as controls. After the first EA treatment, the abdominal withdrawal reflex scores were investigated to evaluate the pain threshold. After seven EA treatments, the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R) and 5-HT4 receptor (5-HT4R) in colon tissue were assayed quantitatively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that EA improved the pain threshold of CVH rats, reduced the 5-HT concentration and increased the 5-HT4R concentration, but had no effect on the 5-HT3R concentration. Further studies are needed to optimize the choice of two-matching points for EA in the treatment of CVH rats.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (973 program, No. 2009CB522904), and by China Postdoctoral Science Foundation funded project (No. 200801260 and No. 20080430117). Many thanks go to editors and reviewers of Neurochemical Research, Dr. Lin-ying Tan and Dr. Ci-Li Zhou of Shanghai University of T.C.M. for their invaluable suggestions and advice for revision of this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, No. 57, Changping Road, 515041, Shantou, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China

    Hui-Rong Liu

  2. Department of Mechanics and Engineering Science, Fudan University, 220 HanDan Road, YangPu District, 200433, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    Xiao-Mei Wang

  3. Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridians, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South WanPing Road, XuHui District, 200030, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China

    En-Hua Zhou, Yin Shi, Na Li, Ling-Song Yuan & Huan-Gan Wu

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  1. Hui-Rong Liu
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  7. Huan-Gan Wu
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Correspondence to Hui-Rong Liu.

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Liu, HR., Wang, XM., Zhou, EH. et al. Acupuncture at Both ST25 and ST37 Improves the Pain Threshold of Chronic Visceral Hypersensitivity Rats. Neurochem Res 34, 1914–1918 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-009-9972-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11064-009-9972-1

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