Effects of Repeated Exposure to Ambient Cold on the Development of Inflammatory Pain in a Rat Model of Knee Arthritis.

This study investigated the effects of ambient cold exposure on inflammatory pain development, synovial cytokine levels, and spinal cord glial cell activation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were divided into Cold and RT groups. The Cold group was exposed to cold (4 ± 1 °C) for 6 h/day for 5 consecutive days, while the RT group remained at room temperature (22 ± 1 °C).

Electroacupuncture at GB34 modulates neurogenesis and BDNF-ERK signaling in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease.

Background And Aim: It has been reported that acupuncture at GB34 can enhance neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of mice treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). However, the signaling pathway that plays a critical role in neurogenesis needs to be established. Herein, we investigated the neurogenesis-promoting pathway mediated by acupuncture, focusing on extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling.

Korean red ginseng decreases 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced mitophagy in SH-SY5Y cells.

Objective: Mitophagy is known to contribute towards progression of Parkinson's disease. Korean red ginseng (KRG) is a widely used medicinal herb in East Asia, and recent studies have reported that KRG prevents 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP)-induced cell death. This study was undertaken to investigate whether KRG suppresses MPP-induced apoptosis and mitophagy.

Korean red ginseng promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in mice.

Neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus plays a major role in cognitive ability of animals including learning and memory. Korean red ginseng (KRG) has long been known as a medicinal herb with the potential to improve learning and memory; however, the mechanisms are still elusive. Therefore, we evaluated whether KRG can promote cognitive function and enhance neurogenesis in the hippocampus.

Korean Red Ginseng Enhances Neurogenesis in the Subventricular Zone of 1-Methyl-4-Phenyl-1,2,3,6-Tetrahydropyridine-Treated Mice.

Regulation of adult neurogenesis plays an important role in therapeutic strategies for various neurodegenerative diseases. Recent studies have suggested that the enhancement of adult neurogenesis can be helpful in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we investigated whether Korean red ginseng (KRG) can enhance neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of a PD mouse model.

Aiton Decreases MPP-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in SH-SY5Y Cells.

Aiton (SF) has been used to treat various diseases including fever and inflammation in China, South Korea and Japan. Several recent reports have shown that SF has anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, indicating that it is a promising candidate for treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). We evaluated the protective effect of SF against neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP)-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, an PD model.

Acupuncture alters pro-inflammatory cytokines in the plasma of maternally separated rat pups.

Objective: To investigate the potential alleviating effects of acupuncture on maternal separation (MS)-induced changes in plasma pro-inflammatory cytokine levels of rat pups.

Methods: On postnatal day 15, rat pups were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=6 per group) using a random number table: normal, MS, MS with acupuncture stimulation at Shenmen (HT 7) acupoint (MS+HT 7), and MS with acupuncture stimulation at Chengshan (BL 57) acupoint (MS+BL 57) groups. Rat pups in the normal group were housed with their mothers under standard conditions; those in the MS, MS+HT 7 and MS+BL 57 groups were maternally separated and individually maintained.

Acupuncture stimulation at GB34 suppresses 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced oxidative stress in the striatum of mice.

Recent studies have suggested that increased oxidative stress is a potential etiology in Parkinson's disease (PD). In this study, we investigated whether acupuncture regulates antioxidants in the striatum (ST) of a PD mouse model. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered 30 mg/kg of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) intraperitoneally once a day for 5 days and given acupuncture stimulation at SI3 or GB34 (Yanglingquan) was for 12 consecutive days.

Acupuncture Stimulation at GB34 Restores MPTP-Induced Neurogenesis Impairment in the Subventricular Zone of Mice.

Adult neurogenesis has recently been considered a new therapeutic paradigm of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we investigated whether acupuncture restores 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine- (MPTP-) induced impaired neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ). Male C57BL/6 mice were given 30 mg/kg of MPTP intraperitoneally once a day for 5 days, after which they were intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/kg of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and given acupuncture stimulation at HT7 or GB34 for 12 consecutive days.

Proteomic Analysis of the Effect of Korean Red Ginseng in the Striatum of a Parkinson's Disease Mouse Model.

Recent studies have shown that Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) suppresses dopaminergic neuronal death in the brain of a Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse model, but the mechanism is still elusive. Using a 2-dimensional electrophoresis technique, we investigated whether KRG can restore the changes in protein expressions in the striatum (ST) of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-injected mice. Male C57BL/6 mice (9 weeks old) were injected with 20 mg/kg MPTP intraperitoneally four times at 2-h intervals.

Electroacupuncture Enhances the Antiallodynic and Antihyperalgesic Effects of Milnacipran in Neuropathic Rats.

Background: Milnacipran, a selective serotonin/norepinephrine-reuptake inhibitor, has been shown to elicit a beneficial effect in various models of neuropathic pain. Previously, we reported that repetitive electroacupuncture (EA) significantly ameliorates neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation (SNL). In the present study, we sought to determine whether a single treatment with EA produces analgesia and whether EA in combination with a subeffective dosage of milnacipran exhibits an additive effect in SNL rats.

Inhibitory Effects of Scolopendra Pharmacopuncture on the Development and Maintenance of Neuropathic Pain in Rats: Possible Involvement of Spinal Glial Cells.

Scolopendra extracts were used for pharmacopuncture at the Kidney 1 acupoint to investigate the role of Scolopendra pharmacopuncture (SPP) in both the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain induced by L5 spinal nerve ligation in rats and the contribution of spinal glial cells. A single treatment and five once-daily treatments with SPP were given to evaluate its effects on the development and maintenance stages of neuropathic pain, respectively, which was followed by behavioral tests. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting tests were also carried out.

Mechanical Antiallodynic Effect of Intrathecal Nefopam in a Rat Neuropathic Pain Model.

Nefopam has a pharmacologic profile distinct from that of opioids or other anti-inflammatory drugs. Several recent studies demonstrate that nefopam has a mechanism of action similar to those of anti-depressants and anticonvulsants for treating neuropathic pain. The present study investigates the mechanical antiallodynic effect of nefopam using immunohistochemical study and western blot analysis in a rat neuropathic pain model.

Korean Red Ginseng protects dopaminergic neurons by suppressing the cleavage of p35 to p25 in a Parkinson's disease mouse model.

Background: Ginseng is known to have antiapoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. The present study investigated a possible role of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) in suppressing dopaminergic neuronal cell death and the cleavage of p35 to p25 in the substantia nigra (SN) and striatum (ST) using a 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced Parkinson's disease mouse model.

Methods: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were injected intraperitoneally with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 d, and then administered KRG (1 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, or 100 mg/kg) once a day for 12 consecutive days from the first injection.

Comparison of electroacupuncture frequency-related effects on heart rate variability in healthy volunteers: a randomized clinical trial.

This study aimed to compare the effects of high frequency electroacupuncture (EA) and low-frequency EA on the autonomic nervous system by using a heart rate variability measuring device in normal individuals. Fourteen participants were recruited and each participated in the high-frequency and low-frequency sessions (crossover design). The order of sessions was randomized and the interval between the two sessions was over 2 weeks.

Synergistic antinociceptive effects of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist and electroacupuncture in the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced pain model.

This study examined the synergistic antinociceptive effects associated with signaling pathway proteins of the spinal cord in a complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced pain model when electroacupuncture (EA) and a N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist were administered in combination. EA stimulation (2 Hz, 1 mA) was needle-delivered for 20 min once daily at acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao with intrathecal injection of the NMDAR antagonist dizocilpine (MK801). Thermal sensitivity of the hindpaw induced by CFA was strongly inhibited by dizocilpine injection and EA stimulation.

A Parametric Study on the Immunomodulatory Effects of Electroacupuncture in DNP-KLH Immunized Mice.

This study was conducted to compare the effects of low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) and high frequency EA at acupoint ST36 on the production of IgE and Th1/Th2 cytokines in BALB/c mice that had been immunized with 2,4-dinitrophenylated keyhole limpet protein (DNP-KLH), as well as to investigate the difference in the immunomodulatory effects exerted by EA stimulations at acupoint ST36 and at a non-acupoint (tail). Female BALB/c mice were divided into seven groups: normal (no treatments), IM (immunization only), ST36-PA (IM + plain acupuncture at ST36), ST36-LEA (IM + low frequency (1 Hz) EA at ST36), ST36-HEA (IM + high frequency (120 Hz) EA at ST36), NA-LEA (IM + low frequency (1 Hz) EA at non-acupoint) and NA-HEA (IM + high frequency (120 Hz) EA at non-acupoint). EA stimulation was performed daily for two weeks, and total IgE, DNP-KLH specific IgE, IL-4 and IFN-γ levels were measured at the end of the experiment.

Spinal cholinergic mechanism of the relieving effects of electroacupuncture on cold and warm allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

This study was performed to determine whether spinal cholinergic systems mediate the relieving effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on cold and warm allodynia in a rat model of neuropathic pain. For neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between the S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the injury, the intrathecal (i.

Protective effects of electroacupuncture on acetylsalicylic acid-induced acute gastritis in rats.

Aim: To investigate the protective effects of electroacupuncture (EA) pretreatment on acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced ulceration in rats.

Methods: We randomly divided 72 rats into three groups including control (administered with distilled water), ASA group (administered 100 mg/kg ASA) and EA group (administered EA + 100 mg/kg ASA). Each rat was fasted for 18 to 24 h before experimentation, and lesion scores, gastric acidity, cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 mRNA levels, and total nitric oxide (NO) concentration were measured.

Electroacupuncture potentiates the antiallodynic effect of intrathecal neostigmine in a rat model of neuropathic pain.

This study was performed to examine whether electroacupuncture potentiates the neostigmine-induced antiallodynia in neuropathic pain rats. Although intrathecal neostigmine (0.05, 0.

Antinociception of heterotopic electro-acupuncture mediated by the dorsolateral funiculus.

We investigated the inhibitory pathways that mediate the antinociceptive effects of heterotopic electro-acupuncture (EA) on formalin injection-induced pain in rats. EA (2 ms, 10 Hz, 3 mA) was delivered to heterotopic acupoints HT(7) and PC(7) for 30 min; this was followed immediately by subcutaneous injection of formalin into the left hind paw of rats. Naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.