Analysis of the mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia using in vivo patch-clamp technique

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26460711
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Pain science
• Research Institution: Wakayama Medical University (2015-2016); Kansai University of Health Sciences (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Nishio Naoko 和歌山県立医科大学, 医学部, 特別研究員 (40648359)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: patch-clamp / 鍼刺激 / in vivo パッチクランプ / IPSC / 脊髄後角

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Acupuncture is a kind of the effective treatments for a chronic pain. However, mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia have been poorly understood. In this study, we investigated effects of acupuncture onto the synaptic transmission of dorsal horn neurons by in vivo patch-clamp technique. Acupuncture did not affect the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in the neuropathic pain model rat. On the other hand, acupuncture increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs), while the amplitude of sIPSCs was not affected by acupuncture. These data suggest that acupuncture analgesia consist of enhancement the release of inhibitory neurotransmitters such as GABA and glycine.

Free Research Field

疼痛分野