Effect of Bee Venom Acupuncture on Oxaliplatin-Induced Cold Allodynia in Rats

Oxaliplatin, a chemotherapy drug, often leads to neuropathic cold allodynia after a single administration. Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) has been used in Korea to relieve various pain symptoms and is shown to have a potent antiallodynic effect in nerve-injured rats. We examined whether BVA relieves ox...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine 2013-01, Vol.2013 (2013), p.1-8
Main Authors: Lim, Bong-Soo, Moon, Hak Jin, Li, Dong Xing, Gil, Munsoo, Min, Joon Ki, Lee, Giseog, Bae, Hyunsu, Kim, Sun Kwang, Min, Byung-Il
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acupuncture
Analgesics
Back pain
Brain research
Cancer therapies
Chemotherapy
Cold
Cold water
Colorectal cancer
Drug dosages
Internal medicine
Latency
Medical research
Naloxone
Narcotics
Neuropathy
Neurosciences
Neurotoxicity
Norepinephrine
Opioids
Oxaliplatin
Pain perception
Peripheral neuropathy
Phentolamine
Rats
Rodents
Venom
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Summary:Oxaliplatin, a chemotherapy drug, often leads to neuropathic cold allodynia after a single administration. Bee venom acupuncture (BVA) has been used in Korea to relieve various pain symptoms and is shown to have a potent antiallodynic effect in nerve-injured rats. We examined whether BVA relieves oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia and which endogenous analgesic system is implicated. The cold allodynia induced by an oxaliplatin injection (6 mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated by immersing the rat’s tail into cold water (4°C) and measuring the withdrawal latency. BVA (1.0 mg/kg, s.c.) at Yaoyangguan (GV3), Quchi (LI11), or Zusanli (ST36) acupoints significantly reduced cold allodynia with the longest effect being shown in the GV3 group. Conversely, a high dose of BVA (2.5 mg/kg) at GV3 did not show a significant antiallodynic effect. Phentolamine (α-adrenergic antagonist, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) partially blocked the relieving effect of BVA on allodynia, whereas naloxone (opioid antagonist, 2 mg/kg, i.p.) did not. We further confirmed that an intrathecal administration of idazoxan (α2-adrenergic antagonist, 50 μg) blocked the BVA-induced anti-allodynic effect. These results indicate that BVA alleviates oxaliplatin-induced cold allodynia in rats, at least partly, through activation of the noradrenergic system. Thus, BVA might be a potential therapeutic option in oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy.
ISSN:1741-427X
1741-4288
DOI:10.1155/2013/369324