Korean Journal of Acupuncture

Society for Meridian and Acupoint (경락경혈학회)
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Electroacupuncture Applied to LR2 Ameliorates Pain Behavior in The Rat Model of Inflammatory Pain

행간 전침이 흰쥐 염증성 통증 모델의 통증 행동 완화에 미치는 영향

  • Koo, Sungtae (Department of Korean Medical Science, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University) ;
  • Choi, Woo Young (Division of Meridian and Structural Medicine, School of Korean Medicine, Pusan National University)
  • 구성태 (부산대학교 한의학전문대학원 한의과학과) ;
  • 최우영 (부산대학교 한의학전문대학원 경락구조의학부)
  • Received : 2017.09.05
  • Accepted : 2017.12.23
  • Published : 2017.12.27
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Abstract

Objectives : The present study aimed to examine the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture(EA) applied to the brook point of the Liver meridian in the rat model of inflammatory pain and to investigate involvement of endogenouse opioid in the EA-induced analgesia. Methods : Knee arthritis was induced by injection of $125{\mu}l$ of complete Freund's adjuvant into the knee joint cavity unilaterally. To examine the level of pain, weight bearing forces(WBFs) of affected limb was measured. EA treatment was given at the LR2, LI4 or non-acupoint on the contralateral limb with frequency of 2 Hz and intensity of 2 mA under gaseous anesthesia. Results : After induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected hindlimb due to a painful knee. EA applied to the LR2 point on the contralateral hind limb produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the hind limb lasting for at least 2 h, and this effect was equivalent to that obtained by 5 mg/kg of oral indomethacin. The effect of EA was specific to the acupoint since it could not be mimicked by EA applied to the LI4 point or the arbitrary non-acupoint. The analgesic effect was blocked by pretreatment with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.). Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture applied to LR2, brook point of Liver meridian suppresses inflammatory pain in a rat model of knee arthritis and this effect seems to be mediated by endogenous opioid systems.

목적 : 이 연구는 흰쥐 염증성 통증 모델에서 족궐음간경의 형혈 전침의 진통효과를 조사하고 이 전침의 진통효과에 내인성 오피오이드가 관계되어 있는지 조사하고자 하였다. 방법 : 무릎 관절염은 $125{\mu}l$ complete Freund's adjuvant를 흰쥐의 한쪽 무릎관절강에 주입하여 유도하였다. 통증 정도를 검사하기 위해 관절염을 유도한 쪽 뒷다리의 weight bearing forces(WBFs)를 측정하였다. 전침은 건측 행간, 합곡, 또는 뒷다리의 비경혈에 가스 마취하에서 2 Hz, 2 mA 자극조건으로 처치하였다. 결과 : 관절염을 유도한 이후에, 점차적으로 무릎에 통증이 증가하기 때문에 관절염을 유발한 쪽 뒷발로 딛는 압력이 감소하였다. 건측 행간에 전침 자극을 한 군에서 전침 자극 후 최소 2시간까지 유의하게 WBF가 증가하였으며, 이 효과는 구강으로 투여한 indomethacin 5 mg/kg의 효과에 해당하였으며, 이 전침의 효과는 합곡이나 비경혈에서는 나타나지 않았다. 아울러 이 진통효과는 오피오이드 길항제인naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.)을 전처치했을 때 차단되었다. 결론 : 이상의 결과는 족궐음간경의 형혈인 행간 자침이 흰쥐 관절염 모델에서 염증성 통증을 억제하는 효과가 있음을 보여주며, 이 효과는 내인성 오피오이드 시스템이 매개하는 것으로 보인다.

Keywords

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