Electroacupuncture induces antihyperalgesic effect through endothelin-B receptor in the chronic phase of a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome type I.

Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder that involves abnormal inflammation and nerve dysfunction frequently resistant to a broad range of treatments. Peripheral nerve stimulation with electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used in different clinical conditions to control pain and inflammation; however, the use of EA in the treatment of CRPS is under investigation. In this study, we explore the effects of EA on hyperalgesia and edema induced in an animal model of chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP model) and the possible involvement of endothelin receptor type B (ETB) in this effect. Female Swiss mice were subjected to 3 h hind paw ischemia/reperfusion CPIP model. EA treatment produced time-dependent inhibition of mechanical and cold hyperalgesia, as well as edema in CPIP mice. Peripheral administration (i.pl.) of BQ-788 (10 nmol), an ETB antagonist, prevented EA-induced antihyperalgesia while intrathecal administration prolonged EA's effect. Additionally, peripheral pre-treatment with sarafotoxin (SRTX S6c, 30 pmol, ETB agonist) increased EA anti-hyperalgesic effect. Furthermore, the expression of peripheral ETB receptors was increased after EA treatments, as measured by western blot. These results may suggest that EA's analgesic effect is synergic with ETB receptor activation in the periphery, as well as central (spinal cord) ETB receptor blockade. These data support the use of EA as a nonpharmacological approach for the management of CRPS-I, in an adjuvant manner to ETB receptor targeting drugs.

• Authors: Leidiane Mazzardo-Martins, Daiana Cristina Salm, Elisa C Winkelmann-Duarte, Júlia Koerich Ferreira, Daniela Dero Lüdtke, Kamilla Pamplona Frech, Luiz Augusto Oliveira Belmonte, Verônica Vargas Horewicz, Anna Paula Piovezan, Francisco José Cidral-Filho, Ari Ojeda Ocampo Moré, Daniel Fernandes Martins
• Journal: Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology (Pflugers Arch) Vol. 470 Issue 12 Pg. 1815-1827 (12 2018) ISSN: 1432-2013 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 30094478 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists
• Oligopeptides
• Piperidines
• Receptor, Endothelin B
• Viper Venoms
• sarafotoxins s6
• BQ 788

Topics

• Animals
• Complex Regional Pain Syndromes (metabolism, therapy)
• Electroacupuncture (methods)
• Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Female
• Hyperalgesia (metabolism, therapy)
• Mice
• Oligopeptides (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Peripheral Nerves (drug effects)
• Piperidines (administration & dosage, pharmacology)
• Receptor, Endothelin B (agonists, metabolism)
• Spinal Cord (drug effects)
• Viper Venoms (administration & dosage, pharmacology)