Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2022, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (on line): 1-5.

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In vivo neuronal and astrocytic activation of 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. 1Joint International Research Laboratory of CNS Regeneration, 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:2022-01-01 Published:2021-11-20
  • 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); National Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 81771455 (to KFS); Science and Technology Program of Guangdong of China, No. 2018B030334001 (to KFS); and Guangdong Natural Science Foundation of China, No. 2019A1515011772 (to LZ).

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Abstract:

Current knowledge for the neural mechanism of acupuncture is far from complete. Using two-photon in vivo calcium recording, we found that the acupuncture stimuli in peripheral acupoints potentiated calcium signals of pyramidal neurons in the somatosensory cortex and resulted in late-onset calcium transients in astrocytes. Chemogenetic inhibition of neurons augmented those astrocytic activities. Our results provide evidence for the involvement of both neurons and astrocytes in acupuncture treatment. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Experimental Animals of Jinan University.

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