Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2012, Vol. 7 ›› Issue (33): 2618-2613.

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Electroacupuncture improves neuropathic pain Adenosine, adenosine 5’-triphosphate disodium and their receptors perhaps change simultaneously

Wen Ren1, Wenzhan Tu2, Songhe Jiang2, Ruidong Cheng2, Yaping Du1   

  1. 1 Institute of Social & Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China
    2 Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325000,
    Zhejiang Province, China
  • Received:2012-08-20 Revised:2012-10-15 Online:2012-11-25 Published:2012-11-25
  • Contact: Yaping Du, Ph.D., Professor,Institute of Social & Family Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province,China duyp@zju.edu.cn
  • About author:Wen Ren☆, M.D., Institute of Social & Family Medicine,Zhejiang University,Hangzhou 310058, Zhejiang Province, China Wen Ren and Wenzhan Tu contributed equally to this article.

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Abstract:

Applying a stimulating current to acupoints through acupuncture needles – known as electroacupuncture – has the potential to produce analgesic effects in human subjects and experimental animals. When acupuncture was applied in a rat model, adenosine 5’-triphosphate disodium in the extracellular space was broken down into adenosine, which in turn inhibited pain transmission by means of an adenosine A1 receptor-dependent process. Direct injection of an adenosine A1 receptor agonist enhanced the analgesic effect of acupuncture. The analgesic effect of acupuncture appears to be mediated by activation of A1 receptors located on ascending nerves.In neuropathic pain, there is upregulation of P2X purinoceptor 3 (P2X3) receptor expression in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Conversely, the onset of mechanical hyperalgesia was diminished and established hyperalgesia was significantly reversed when P2X3 receptor expression was downregulated. The pathways upon which electroacupuncture appear to act are interwoven with pain pathways, and electroacupuncture stimuli converge with impulses originating from painful areas. Electroacupuncture may act via purinergic A1 and P2X3 receptors simultaneously to induce an analgesic effect on neuropathic pain.

Key words: electroacupuncture, analgesia, adenosine, adenosine 5’-triphosphate disodium, A1 receptors, P2X purinoceptor 3 receptors, neuropathic pain, peripheral nervous system, central nervous system;regeneration, neural regeneration.