• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1285-1290
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• 2007

The present study aims to identify and characterize genes that cause differen genes between non-responders and responders to electroacupuncture (EA) on mechanical allodynia following peripheral nerve injury. Under sodium pentobarbital anesthesia, animals were subjected to unilateral transection of the superior caudal trunk at the level between S1 and S2 spinal nerves. EA stimulation (2Hz, 0.3 ms, 0.2-0.3 mA) was delivered to Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min 2 weeks after the surgery. The degree of mechanical allodynia was assessed quantitatively by touching the tail with von Frey hair (2.0 g) at 10 min intervals. The rats, which showed an EA-induced decrease of response frequencies under 10 %, were classified as non-responders and those displaying an EA-induced decrease of response frequencies 20 % or more were classified as responders. Results from oligonucleotide microarray, to which cDNAs from the spinal dorsal horn (DH) were applied, showed that hemoglobin beta chain complex and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan-5 decreased and limbic system-associated membrane protein increased in the non-responder group, whereas calcium-independent alpha-Iatrotoxin receptor homolog-3 increased in the responder group. These results suggest that The functional abnormality of molecules regulating cell adhesion, intracellular signal transduction and cell differentiation in the spinal DH may be involved in the anti-allodynic effect of EA.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 2001

Background: Conventional thoracoscopic sympathectomy or sympathicotomy is an effective method in treating localized hyperhidrosis; however, this may result in a postoperatively compensatory hyperhidrosis or facial anhidrosis in the treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis. We modified the conventional sympathicotomy by limiting the extent of nerve transection (limited T3 sympathicotomy) since May 1998. However, there are many reports of a good short-term outcome of limited T3 sympathicotomy. Therefore, we reviewed long-term follow-up of limited T3 sympathicotomy based on outcomes analysis using a questionnaire. Methods: Fifty four patients with palmar hyperhidrosis underwent a limited T3 sympathicotomy between May 1998 and March 1999 and had a complete follow-up over two years using a questionnaire (the mean follow-up was 2.6 years). The patients' postoperative satisfaction was determined by their subjective responses to the questionnaires; the degree of compensatory hyperhidrosis, the effects on foot hyperhidrosis, gustatory hyperhidrosis and facial dryness, and recurrence, and patient's satisfaction. Results: Of the total, 87% of patients had a compensatory hyperhidrosis and 3.7% of them were disabled. 31.5% of patients showed improvement in foot hyperhidrosis, while 68.5% of patients demonstrated no change or got worse. 31.5% of patients had gustatory hyperhidrosis and facial dryness and 22.2% of patients showed a mild palmar hyperhidrosis. The postoperative patients' satisfaction was significantly in 96.3% of patients. Conclusions: The limited T3 sympathicotomy is a highly effective treatment of palmar hyperhidrosis and has a low rate of postoperative compensatory hyperhidrosis, gustatory hyperhidrosis, and facial dryness.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 1998

Background: The present study was conducted to investigate effects of microinjection of bicuculline, GABA-A receptor antagonist, into the brain stem nuclei on the dorsal horn neuron responsiveness in rats with an experimental peripheral neuropathy. Methods: An experimental neuropathy was induced by a unilateral ligation of L5~L6 spinal nerves of rats. After 2~3 weeks after the surgery, single-unit recording was made from wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the spinal cord dorsal horn. Results: Responses of WDR neurons to both noxious and innocuous mechanical stimuli applied to the somatic receptive fields were enhanced on the nerve injured side. These enhanced responsiveness of WDR neurons were suppressed by microinjection of bicuculline into periaqueductal gray(PAG) or nucleus reticularis gigantocellularis(Gi). A similar suppression was also observed when morphine was microinjected into PAG or Gi. Suppressive action by Gi-bicuculline was reversed by naloxonazine, ${\mu}$-opioid receptor antagonist, microinjected into PAG whereas PAG-bicuculline induced suppression was not affected by naloxonazine injection into Gi. Gi-bicuculline induced suppression were reversed by a transection of dorsolateral funiculus(DLF) of the spinal cord. Conclusions: The results suggest that endogenous opioids, via acting on GABAergic interneurons in PAG and Gi, may be involved in the control of neuropathic pain by activating the descending inhibitory pathways that project to the spinal dorsal horn through DLF to inhibit the responsiveness of WDR neurons.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.52-62
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• 2019

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Zingiberis Rhizoma Pharmacopuncture(ZP) at GB30 and ST36 in neuropathic pain induced SD rats by the block of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1(TRPV1). Methods : Neuropathic pain in rats was induced by tibial and common peroneal nerve transection of right leg. The rat subjects were divided into 6 groups : normal(Nor, n=5), control(Con, n=5), neuropathic pain plus 2 mg/kg ZP injection at GB30 and ST36(ZP-A, n=5), 10 mg/kg ZP(ZP-B, n=5), 20 mg/kg ZP(ZP-C, n=5) and 0.45 mg/kg Tramadol(Tra, n=5). Three days after the surgery, injections were administered once a day for 17 days. Withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' legs were measured by stimulating the paw of Right leg with von frey filament, acetone and radient heat on day 3, 7, 11, 15, 19 after surgery. After all treatments were completed, c-Fos in the midbrain central gray and TRPV1 & TRPA1 of DRG(L5) were analyzed. Results : Groups ZP-B and ZP-C showed a meaningful decrease in the withdrawal response of mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia compared to the control group(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Groups ZP-B and ZP-C showed a meaningful decrease in the expression of c-fos and TRPV1 protein level compared to the control group(p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.001). Conclusions : These results suggest that Zingiberis Rhizoma Pharmacopuncture at GB30 and ST36 could decrease mechanical & cold allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia by block the TRPV1 on the model of neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine whether Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture may affect to the neuropathic pain in a rat model. Methods : To produce the model of neuropathic pain, under isoflurane 2.5 % anesthesia, underwent tight ligation by 6.0 silk thread and transection of the tibial and sural nerves, leaving the common peroneal nerve intact. After neuropathic surgery, the author examined if the exhibited the behavioral sign of allodynia. The allodynia was assessed by stimulating the plantar with Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer. Three days after the neuropathic surgery, Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture was injected at Sinsu($BL_{23}$) once every week for 6 weeks. After that, the author examined the withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' leg by Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer. And also the author examined Bax, Bcl-2, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the spinal cord of neuropathic rats and the change of WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT count in the blood of neuropathic rats. Results : 1. The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased the withdrawal response of mechanical allodynia that assessed with Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer in EC2-$BL_{23}$ group as compared with control group. 2. The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in EC1-$BL_{23}$, EC2-$BL_{23}$ group. But The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture injected at Sinsu($BL_{23}$) didn't change Bax, Bcl-2 expression level in the all group. 3. The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased WBC count in EC1-$BL_{23}$, EC2-$BL_{23}$ group. Conclusions : We have noticed that Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased mechanical allodynia in the model of neuropathic pain compared with the control group. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in spinal cord of that group was also decreased compared with the control group. This study can be used as a basic resource on a study and a treatment of neuropathic pain.