대한한의학회지 (The Journal of Korean Medicine)
- 제25권3호
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- Pages.67-77
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- 2004
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- 1010-0695(pISSN)
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- 2288-3339(eISSN)
전침자극이 만성통증을 억제하는 아드레날린성 기전에 대한 연구
$\alpha_2$ -Adrenoceptors are Implicated in the Electroacupuncture-induced Analgesia of Experimental Chronic Pain
- Shin Hong-Kee (Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
- Lee Kyung-Hee (Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University) ;
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Park Dong-Suk
(Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyunghee University)
- 발행 : 2004.09.01
초록
Objectives : Many studies have reported that acupuncture analgesia was mediated through the activation of peripheral and central opioid receptors. However, there has been little electrophysiological study on the adrenergic mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the role of adrenoceptors in the production of acupuncture analgesia in the chronic pain model. Methods : In the rat with chronic inflammation and nerve injury, dorsal horn cell (DHC) responses to afferent C fiber stimulation were used as a pain index and changes in electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia were recorded before and after intravenous administration of selective adrenoceptor antagonists. EA stimulations (2Hz, 0.5msec, 3mA) were applied to the contralateral Zusanli point for 30 min. Results : EA stimulation induced long-lasting inhibition of DHC responses in the rat with chronic inflammation and nerve injury. In both models of inflammation and neuropathic pain, α-adrenoceptor antagonist (phentolamine) significantly attenuated an inhibitory effect of EA on DHC responses. Selective α2-adrenoceptor antagonist (yohimbine) also had a similar suppressive action on DHC responses to that of phentolamine. However, β-adrenoceptor antagonist (propranolol) did not have any inhibitory effect on DHC responses in either model of chronic pain. Conclusions : These experimental findings suggest that in rats with chronic pain, EA stimulation with low frequency and high intensity produced an analgesic effect which was mediated through an activation of α2-adrenoceptors.