Reduction of Spinal Cyclooxygenase-2 with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Cold Therapy in Rats of Carrageenan-induced Inflammatory Muscle Pain.
- Author:
Yun Woong PAEK
1
;
Yun Won CHAE
;
Jung Woo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Physical Therapy, Kwangju Health College, Gwangju, Korea. paekyw@www.kjhc.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
COX-2;
TENS;
Cold therapy;
Hyperalgesia
- MeSH:
Animals;
Carrageenan;
Cryotherapy*;
Cyclooxygenase 2*;
Horns;
Hot Temperature;
Hyperalgesia;
Immunohistochemistry;
Muscle, Skeletal;
Myalgia*;
Rats*;
Rats, Sprague-Dawley;
RNA, Messenger;
Spinal Cord;
Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation*
- From:Korean Journal of Anatomy
2003;36(5):397-403
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and cold therapy on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in lumbar spinal cord and on secondary hyperalgesia produced by muscle pain. Muscle pain was experimentally induced by injection of 2% carrageenan into gastrocnemius muscle of Sprague-Dawley rats. For assessment of secondary hyperalgesia, the rats were tested for paw withdrawal latency (PWL) and tail flick latency (TFL) to heat stimulus. COX-2 expression in lumbar cord was examined using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Secondary hyperalgesia to heat stimulus was significantly reduced in the both TENS- and cold-treatment groups, compared to the control group. The COX-2 mRNA levels were down-regulated in the lumbar spinal cord in the both TENS- and cold-treatment groups. In addition, COX-2 immunoreactivity was decreased in the dorsal horn of the lumbar spinal cord in the both TENS- and cold-treatment groups. These results suggested that decreased COX-2 expression in the lumbar spinal cord of the subjects receiving TENS treatment and cold therapy might be an important factor for reducing secondary hyperalgesia produced by muscle pain.