Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2022, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (11): 2526-2529.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.339003

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In vivo neuronal and astrocytic activation in somatosensory cortex by acupuncture stimuli

Xiao-Yue Chang1, 2, #, Kai Chen1, #, Tong Cheng1, #, Pui To Lai2, Li Zhang1, 3, 4, *, Kwok-Fai So1, 2, 3, 4, 5, *, Edward S. Yang2, *   

  1. 1Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Minstry of Education), Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; 2Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China; 3Center for Brain Science and Brain-Inspired Intelligence, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; 4Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China; 5State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
  • Online:2022-11-15 Published:2022-04-23
  • Contact: Li Zhang, PhD, zhangli@jnu.edu.cn; Kwok-Fai So, PhD, hrmaskf@hku.hk; Edward S. Yang, PhD, esyang123@hotmail.com.
  • Supported by:
    This study was supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China, No. 2016YFC1306702 (to KFS and LZ); the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81771455 (to KFS); Science and Technology Program of Guangdong Province of China, No. 2018B030334001 (to KFS); and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong of China, No. 2019A1515011772 (to LZ).

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Abstract: Acupuncture is a medical treatment that has been widely practiced in China for over 3000 years, yet the neural mechanisms of acupuncture are not fully understood. We hypothesized that neurons and astrocytes act independently and synergistically under acupuncture stimulation. To investigate this, we used two-photon in vivo calcium recording to observe the effects of acupuncture stimulation at ST36 (Zusanli) in mice. Acupuncture stimulation in peripheral acupoints potentiated calcium signals of pyramidal neurons and astrocytes in the somatosensory cortex and resulted in late-onset calcium transients in astrocytes. Chemogenetic inhibition of neurons augmented the astrocytic activity. These findings suggest that acupuncture activates neuronal and astrocytic activity in the somatosensory cortex and provide evidence for the involvement of both neurons and astrocytes in acupuncture treatment.

Key words: acupuncture, astrocyte, chemogenetic, neuron, N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, somatosensory cortex, transient receptor potential A1, two-photon in vivo imaging