SEGMENTAL DISTRIBUTION OF AFFERENT ELECTRO-ACUPUNCTURE SIGNALS FROM ACUPOINTS OF THE PERICARDIUM MERIDIAN IN THE RAT

Objective: To observe the segmental distribution of afferent Electroacupuncture (EA) signals from acupoints of the Pericardium (PC) Meridian and try to analyze the relative specificity of running route of PC Meridian.Methods: A total of 85 Wistar rats anesthetized with mixed solution of Chloralose (5 mg/100 g) and Urethane (42 mg/100g) were used in this study. Under microscopic observation, the micro-filaments of the distal end of the dorsal root were carefully separated after tearing the spinal pia mater to attach to a recording electrode. The reference electrode was placed beneath the skin of the incision. Two caudal and two rostral dorsal roots near the recorded one were cut off separately. Electrical activity of the isolated micro-filaments was observed before and after EA of "Daling" (PC 7) -"Jianshi" (PC 5), "Quze" (PC 3) of PC Meridian, "Yangchi"(TE 4)- "Zhigou" (TE 6), "Tianjing" (TE 10)-" Qin-glengyuan" (TE 11) of the Triple Energizer (TE) Meridian with electric current 1 mA and 2 mA and double pulses. Results: ① After EA (1 mA) of "Daling"(PC 7)-"Jianshi"(PC 5), the firing rates of 3 out of 10 (33.3%) micro-filaments in C5 segment, 5 out of 10 (50.0%) in C6, 7 out of 10 (70.0%) in 07, 3 out of 10 (30.0%) in C8 and 3 out of 13 (23. 1%) in T1 increased considerably；and after EA of "Quze" (PC 3), those of 3/10 of C5, 4/10 of C6, 6/10 of C7, 3/10 of C8, and 3/10 of T1 increased significantly. ② After EA (1 mA) of "Yangchi"(TE 4)- "Zhigou" (TE 6) and "Tianjing" (TE 10)- "Qinglengyuan" (TE 11). the firing rates of 2/10, 2/10 of micro-filaments In C5, 7/10, 3/10 of C6, 5/10 and 4/10 of C7, 1/10 and 1/10 of C8, and 2/13 and 1/10 of T1 increased significantly. It indicates that C7 dorsal root may play the first important role in conveying EA signals from PC Meridian acupoints to the spinal cord, while C6 and C7 may be mainly responsible for conveying EA signals from TE Meridian acupoints to the spinal cord. Conclusion: The peripheral afferent pathway for transmitting EA signals from PC Meridian acupoints probably has a relative specificity.

SH2-B beta upregulates the expression of interleukin-1 beta in lung and visceral primary afferent neurons in asthmatic mice

A previous study by our research group showed that nerve growth factor is involved in the onset of asthma through regulating SH2-Bβ expression in the lung and visceral primary afferent neurons of asthmatic mice. This study sought to assess the expression level of interleukin-1β in primary afferent neurons in C7-T5 spinal ganglia, spinal cord and lung in asthmatic mice after blockage of SH2-Bβ. The levels of interleukin-1β protein in primary afferent neurons in the C7-T5 spinal ganglia and lung were decreased, and interleukin-1β mRNA expression also down-regulated in the spinal cord, medulla oblongata and lung tissue after blockage of SH2-Bβ. Our findings indicate that SH2-Bβ can upregulate the expression of interleukin-1β in C7-T5 spinal ganglia, spinal cord and lung of asthmatic mice.