Effects of preventative moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)on BDNF-TrkB pathway in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus in rats with dysmenorrhea
10.1007/s11726-024-1437-1
- VernacularTitle:逆灸神阙、关元对痛经大鼠脊髓背角和下丘脑BDNF-TrkB通路的影响
- Author:
Xiangyun MENG
;
Yulei LIANG
;
Di WANG
;
Xuan ZHANG
;
Yanqiu SUN
;
Yanxue XING
;
Zhiguo ZHAO
;
Xiaoshun MA
;
Xinhua LI
;
Yanping YANG
- Keywords:
Moxibustion Therapy;
Point,Shenque(CV8);
Point,Guanyuan(CV4);
Dysmenorrhea;
Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor;
Substance P;
Prostaglandins;
Rats
- From:
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science
2024;22(3):195-203
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To observe the effects of preventative moxibustion on analgesia,substance P(SP),prostaglandin(PG)F2α and PGE2 in rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation,and to explore the analgesic mechanism. Methods:Sixty-four female Wistar non-pregnant rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a Western medicine group,and a preventative moxibustion group,with 16 rats in each group.Eight qualified diestrus rats were selected from each group.Except for the blank group,the other three groups established models of dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation using an ice water bath combined with estradiol benzoate and oxytocin.On the 8th day after modeling,the preventative moxibustion group was treated with gentle moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4),and the Western medicine group was given ibuprofen solution for 4 consecutive days.On the 11th day,the intervention groups(i.e.the Western medicine group and the preventative moxibustion group)were treated once again after being injected with oxytocin.The writhing score and the pain threshold of rats were determined;the serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor(BDNF),SP,PGF2α,and PGE2 were measured;the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF and its receptor tropomyosin receptor kinase B(TrkB)in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus were detected. Results:Compared with the blank group,the writhing score increased(P<0.01),the pain threshold decreased(P<0.01),the serum levels of BDNF,SP,and PGF2α increased(P<0.01),while the PGE2 decreased(P<0.01);the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus increased(P<0.01)in the model group.Compared with the model group,the writhing score decreased,the pain threshold increased,the serum BDNF,SP,and PGF2α levels decreased significantly,the serum PGE2 level increased,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus decreased significantly in the preventative moxibustion group and the Western medicine group,while the inter-group differences were significant(P<0.01).Compared with the Western medicine group,the writhing score decreased,the pain threshold increased,the serum BDNF,SP,and PGF2α,levels decreased,the serum PGE2 level increased,and the protein and mRNA expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus in the preventative moxibustion group decreased significantly,while the inter-group differences were significant(P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusion:Preventative moxibustion at Shenque(CV8)and Guanyuan(CV4)can improve the pain sensitization state of rats with dysmenorrhea due to cold-dampness stagnation,down-regulate the mRNA and protein expression levels of BDNF and TrkB in the spinal dorsal horn and hypothalamus;regulation of the serum SP,PGF2α,and PGE2 levels may be part of the mechanism.
