[Effects of electroacupuncture on Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway in annulus fibrosus cells in intervertebral disc in rats with cervical spondylosis].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on Wnt-β-catenin signal pathway in annulus fibrosus cells in intervertebral disc in rats with cervical spondylosis.

METHODS:

Forty SD rats were randomized into a control group, a model group, an EA group and a medication group, 10 rats in each one. Rats in the control group were treated with sham operation, only incision on local skin; rats in the remaining groups were made into cervical spondylosis models. After model establishment, rats in the control group and model group received fixed treatment under identical condition; rats in the EA group were treated with EA at "Dazhui" (GV 14), 30 min per treatment; rats in the medication group were treated with intragastric administration of meloxicam tablets. Treatments were both given once a day, and 14 days were taken as one session; there was an interval of 2 days between two sessions, and totally two sessions were given. After the treatments, immunohistochemistry was applied to measure the expression of Wnt, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and Axin in annulus fibrosus cells; western blot was used to test the expression of P-β-catenin.

RESULTS:

In the control group, there were more positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were intensively distributed, deeply colored, and strongly positive; In the model group, there were less positive cells of Wnt, GSK-3β and Axin, which were sparsely distributed and weakly positive. The expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the model group was less than that in the control group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin in the EA group and medication group was higher than that in the model group (all P < 0.05); expression of Wnt, GSK-3β, Axin and P-β-catenin was not significantly different between EA group and medication group (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION:

EA could delay the degeneration of intervertebral disc, which may be related to EA inhibiting signal pathway of Wnt-β-catenin.

• Authors: Jun Liao, Qiao-Yu Xie, Le Zhang, Mei-Gui Ke
• Journal: Zhongguo zhen jiu = Chinese acupuncture & moxibustion (Zhongguo Zhen Jiu) Vol. 34 Issue 12 Pg. 1203-7 (Dec 2014) ISSN: 0255-2930 [Print] China
• PMID: 25876354 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• beta Catenin
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3

Topics

• Acupuncture Points
• Animals
• Electroacupuncture
• Female
• Fibrosis
• Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (genetics, metabolism)
• Humans
• Intervertebral Disc (metabolism, pathology)
• Male
• Rats
• Spondylosis (genetics, metabolism, pathology, therapy)
• Wnt Signaling Pathway
• beta Catenin (genetics, metabolism)