Effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation on expression of p-JNK in the dorsal root ganglion in a rat model of myofascial pain syndrome

Background: Acupuncture has been used to treat myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) for 2000 years in China, but its mechanisms are still not entirely clear. In the present study, we explored the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation (TEAS) at an Ashi acupuncture point on expr...

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Published in:Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society 2019-10, Vol.37 (5), p.312-318
Main Authors: Yu, Xiangdi, Zhang, Fangxiang, Zhang, Jingchao
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acupuncture
Acupuncture Points
Acupuncture Therapy
Animals
Chronic illnesses
Ganglia, Spinal - metabolism
Humans
Male
MAP Kinase Kinase 4 - genetics
MAP Kinase Kinase 4 - metabolism
Muscular system
Myofascial Pain Syndromes - genetics
Myofascial Pain Syndromes - metabolism
Myofascial Pain Syndromes - therapy
Neurological disorders
Pain
Phosphorylation
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Rodents
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation
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Summary:Background: Acupuncture has been used to treat myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) for 2000 years in China, but its mechanisms are still not entirely clear. In the present study, we explored the effects of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation (TEAS) at an Ashi acupuncture point on expression of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) using a rat model of MPS. Methods: 32 rats were divided into four groups: normal, MPS, MPS+TEAS and MPS+sham- TEAS. MPS was produced by a blunt strike to the left vastus medialis combined with eccentric exercise for 8 weeks. Rats in the MPS+TEAS group received TEAS (6–9 mA, 2 Hz, 30 min) treatment at the Ashi acupuncture point for 2 weeks; rats in the MPS+sham -TEAS group had the same electrodes applied but received no stimulation. Paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) was studied at baseline and on days 3, 7, 11 and 15 after treatment. Haematoxylin and eosin staining was used to examine for morphological changes in the left vastus medialis muscles; expression of p-JNK in the L3–L5 DRG was determined by immunofluorescence staining and western blotting after treatment. Results: Compared with the normal group, PWTL decreased significantly (P
ISSN:0964-5284
1759-9873
DOI:10.1136/acupmed-2017-011536