[Effect of Electroacupuncture Intervention on β-endorphin Levels of Hypothalamus and Spinal Cord Tissues in Rats with Pelmatic Incisional Pain].

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on pain thresholds (PT) and contents of β-endorphin (EP) in the hypothalamus and spinal cord, and the expression of 5-HT in the dorsal raphe nucleus(DRN)in rats with pelmatic incisional pain, so as to investigate the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture in reducing post-operative pain.

Methods: Wistar rats were randomized into normal control, model, EA and non-acupoint groups (=8/group). The pelmatic pain model was induced by making an incision (about 1 cm in length, to the fascia and muscle layers) from the heel towards the toes.