Evidence Details for Calca
PMID Title Journal Year Abstract
31217804 Effect of Electroacupuncture on Hyperalgesia and Vasoactive Neurotransmitters in a Rat Model of Conscious Recurrent Migraine. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 May 14;2019:9512875. doi: 10.1155/2019/9512875. eCollection 2019. 2019 Migraine onset is associated with the abnormal release of vasoactive neurotransmitters from perivascular nerves, and these neurotransmitters are involved in the pathophysiology of migraine. Hyperalgesia is a key feature of migraine, and accumulating evidence indicates that electroacupuncture (EA) at the single acupuncture point (Fengchi [GB20]) is effective in ameliorating hyperalgesia. In clinical practice, multiple acupuncture points are widely used, especially GB20 and Yanglingquan (GB34). However, the role played by vasoactive neurotransmitters in acupuncture antihyperalgesic effect at the single or multiple acupuncture points remains unknown. We aimed to determine whether EA would exert its antihyperalgesic effects by modulating vasoactive neurotransmitter release from the perivascular nerves. Furthermore, we examined whether targeting multiple acupuncture points would be more effective than targeting a single point in reducing hyperalgesia. The mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were evaluated by measuring the facial and hind-paw mechanical withdrawal thresholds, tail-flick and hot-plate latencies. Plasma concentrations of vasoactive neurotransmitters were determined using rat-specific ELISA kits from jugular vein, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 (ET-1). The result suggested that EA significantly ameliorated the mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia, reduced c-Fos levels in the trigeminal ganglion, and attenuated plasma and dural levels of vasoactive neurotransmitters, especially in the multiple acupuncture points group (GB20+GB34). In conclusion, EA exerts antihyperalgesic effect in a rat model of conscious recurrent migraine, possibly via modulation of the vasoactive neurotransmitters. Furthermore, targeting multiple acupuncture points is more effective than targeting a single point in reducing hyperalgesia."

Evidence Sentence: Plasma concentrations of vasoactive neurotransmitters were determined using rat-specific ELISA kits from jugular vein, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), nitric oxide (NO), and endothelin-1 (ET-1).
Evidence Sentence: EA Reduced Plasma Concentrations of CGRP and SP
Evidence Sentence: The ELISA results revealed that DES (Model group) significantly elevated the plasma levels of CGRP (Figure 4(a)) and SP (Figure 4(b)) relative to those observed in the Sham group (P<0.001 for both).
Evidence Sentence: When compared with the levels observed in the Model group, the plasma levels of CGRP and SP in the EA-treated (GB20+GB34, GB20, GB34) groups (P<0.001 for all) were significantly reduced; however, no significant differences in CGRP and SP levels were observed between the Model and Non-Acu group (P>0.05 for both).
Evidence Sentence: Furthermore, the GB20+GB34 group exhibited significantly lower plasma levels of CGRP and SP levels than did the GB20 (P<0.05, P<0.01) or GB34 (P<0.001, P<0.001) group.
Evidence Sentence: In addition, plasma CGRP and SP levels were significantly lower in the GB20+GB34 (P<0.001) and GB20 (P<0.001) groups than in the Non-Acu group.
Evidence Sentence: Acupuncture Attenuated the DES-Induced Reductions in Dural CGRP and VIP Expression
Evidence Sentence: To determine whether EA influences the expression of vasoactive neurotransmitters in the dura mater, we performed immunofluorescence analyses of CGRP and VIP expression.
Evidence Sentence: The expression levels of CGRP and VIP were significantly elevated in Model than that of Sham group (P<0.001 for both; Figure 5).
Evidence Sentence: The CGRP level in the GB20+GB34 and GB20 groups, but not the GB34 group, was significantly reduced relative to that in the Model group, while only the GB20+GB34 group showed significant reductions in the VIP level relative to that in the Model group (P<0.05; Figure 5).
Evidence Sentence: No significant differences in CGRP or VIP expression were observed between the Model and Non-Acu groups (P>0.05; Figures 5(b) and 5(d)), or between the GB20+GB34 and GB20 groups (P>0.05; Figures 5(b) and 5(d)).