| 摘要: | 針灸包括將一根細針插入特定的位置，通常稱為穴位，從而開始伴有諸如酸，重，脹和麻等現象並經此而?生的治療效果。穴位的特徵在於具有豐富的感覺神經末梢的深部組織中的特殊位置，這表明穴位與周邊神經感覺信息傳入之間存在強而有力的關係。而針灸後神經的傳導需要透過TRPV1反應通道。在這項研究中，我們確定徒手針刺（MA）或不同頻率的電針（EA）是否具有激活興奮性神經傳導的相似機制。我們在ST36穴位進行MA或EA，我們還使用蛋白質印跡(western blot)和免疫染色技術來測定周圍背根神經節（DRG），脊髓（SC）和體感皮質（SSC）層次的神經改變。我們的結果顯示ST36穴位的MA或EA顯著增加了在周邊神經DRG和中樞的TRPV1相關信號通路的組分，例如pPKA，pPI3K，pPKC-pERK和pAKT（但不是pp38或pJNK） SC-SSC層次。這些分子在TRPV1–/– 小鼠的DRG和SC-SSC中不能增加。我們的數據表明TRPV1對於針刺效應至關重要，然後在周邊神經DRG和中心SC-SSC途徑。
Acupuncture involves inserting a fine needle into a specific point, often called an acupoint, thereby initiating a therapeutic effect accompanied by phenomena such as soreness, heaviness, fullness, and numbness. Acupoints are characterized as points located in deep tissues with abundant sensory nerve terminals, which suggests that there is a strong relationship between acupoints and peripheral sensory afferents. In this study, we determined whether manual acupuncture (MA) or different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) share similar mechanisms for activating excitatory neurotransmission. We performed MA or EA at acupoint ST36 and we also used western blot and immunostaining techniques to determine neural changes at the peripheral dorsal root ganglion (DRG), spinal cord (SC), and somatosensory cortex (SSC) levels. Our results show that either MA or EA at the ST36 acupoint significantly increased components of the TRPV1-related signaling pathway, such as pPKA, pPI3K, pPKC-pERK, and pAKT (but not pp38 or pJNK) at the peripheral DRG and central SC-SSC levels. These molecules could not increase in the DRG and SC-SSC of TRPV1–/–mice. Our data demonstrates that TRPV1 is crucial for an acupuncture effect at peripheral DRG and central SC-SSC level.
Results：Our results show that either MA or EA at the ST36 acupoint significantly increased components of the TRPV1-related signaling pathway, such as pPKA, pPI3K, pPKC-pERK, and pAKT (but not pp38 or pJNK) at the peripheral DRG and central SC-SSC levels. Furthermore, excitatory phosphorylated N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (pNMDA) and pCaMKIIα (but not pNR2B, pCaMKIIδ, or pCaMKIIγ) also increased. These molecules could not increase in the DRG and SC-SSC of TRPV1–/–mice. Our data demonstrates that TRPV1 is crucial for an acupuncture effect at peripheral DRG and central SC-SSC level. |
