2016, Volume 10, Issue 4
Frontiers of Medicine >> 2016, Volume 10, Issue 4 doi: 10.1007/s11684-016-0482-7
Distinct roles of ASIC3 and TRPV1 receptors in electroacupuncture-induced segmental and systemic analgesia
Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
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Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of different afferent fibers on electroacupuncture (EA)-induced analgesia. However, contributions of functional receptors expressed on afferent fibers to the EA analgesia remain unclear. This study investigates the roles of acid-sensing ion channel 3 (ASIC3) and transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptors in EA-induced segmental and systemic analgesia. Effects of EA at acupoint ST36 with different intensities on the C-fiber reflex and mechanical and thermal pain thresholds were measured among the ASIC3−/−, TRPV1−/−, and C57BL/6 mice. Compared with C57BL/6 mice, the ipsilateral inhibition of EA with 0.8 C-fiber threshold (0.8Tc) intensity on C-fiber reflex was markedly reduced in ASIC3−/− mice, whereas the bilateral inhibition of 1.0 and 2.0Tc EA was significantly decreased in TRPV1−/− mice. The segmental increase in pain thresholds induced by 0.3 mA EA was significantly reduced in ASIC3−/− mice, whereas the systemic enhancement of 1.0 mA EA was markedly decreased in TRPV1−/− mice. Thus, segmental analgesia of EA with lower intensity is partially mediated by ASIC3 receptor on Aβ-fiber, whereas systemic analgesia induced by EA with higher intensity is more likely induced by TRPV1 receptor on Ad- and C-fibers.
Keywords
electroacupuncture ; analgesia ; ASIC3 ; TRPV1 ; C-fiber reflex
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