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Electroacupuncture alleviates chemotherapy‐induced pain through inhibiting phosphorylation of spinal CaMKII in rats
Author(s) -
Zhang Y.,
Li A.,
Xin J.,
Ren K.,
Berman B.M.,
Lao L.,
Zhang R.X.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
european journal of pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.305
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1532-2149
pISSN - 1090-3801
DOI - 10.1002/ejp.1132
Subject(s) - electroacupuncture , hyperalgesia , medicine , allodynia , neuropathic pain , pharmacology , anesthesia , spinal cord , antagonist , acupuncture , endocrinology , nociception , receptor , alternative medicine , pathology , psychiatry
Background Current medical treatments for chemotherapy‐induced pain ( CIP ) are either ineffective or have adverse side effects. Acupuncture may alleviate CIP , but its effectiveness against this condition has not been studied. Paclitaxel causes neuropathic pain in cancer patients. Methods We evaluated the effects of electroacupuncture ( EA ) on paclitaxel‐induced CIP in a rat model. Paclitaxel (2 mg/kg) or vehicle was injected (i.p.) on alternate days of 0–6. The resulting pain was treated with 10 Hz/2 mA/0.4 ms pulse EA for 30 min at the equivalent of human acupoint GB 30 (Huantiao) once every other day between days 14 and 26. For sham control, EA needles were inserted into GB 30 without stimulation. Von Frey filaments with bending forces of 2–8 g and 15 g were used to assess mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia, respectively, on day 13 and once every other day between 14–26 days and then for 2–3 weeks after EA treatment. Results Compared to sham control, EA significantly alleviated paclitaxel‐induced mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia, as shown by less frequent withdrawal responses to the filaments. The alleviation of allodynia/hyperalgesia lasted up to 3 weeks after the EA treatment. EA significantly inhibited phosphorylation of Ca 2+ /calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (Ca MKII ) in the spinal cord. KN ‐93, a selective inhibitor of p‐Ca MKII , inhibited mechanical allodynia/hyperalgesia and p‐Ca MKII . 5‐ HT 1A receptor antagonist blocked EA inhibition of allodynia/hyperalgesia and p‐Ca MKII . Conclusions Electroacupuncture activates 5‐ HT 1A receptors in the spinal cord and inhibits p‐Ca MKII to alleviate both allodynia and hyperalgesia. The data support acupuncture/ EA as a complementary therapy for CIP . Significance Electroacupuncture (EA) activates spinal 5‐ HT 1A receptors to inhibit p‐Ca MKII to alleviate paclitaxel‐induced pain. Acupuncture/ EA may be used as a complementary therapy for CIP .