CHEN Hong, YANG Jinsheng, XU Dongsheng, BAI Wanzhu, WANG Yingying △(1 Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an 712046, China; 2 Institute of Acu-moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China)

Abstract: Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture  on the expression of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine in "YangLingQuan" (GB 34)  local  tissue  by  using immunohistochemistry  combined  with  confocal  technique,  so  as  to explore  its  signal  transduction  pathway.  Methods:  6  male  Wistar  rats,  the  left  hind  limb "YangLingQuan" (GB 34)skin  electroacupuncture, corresponding to the right as control. The ·skin tissue on hind limbs  "YangLingQuan" (GB 34)  was exposed by shearing wool. Subsequently,electroacupuncture was carried out on the left side of  "YangLingQuan" (GB 34)  Then the local tissue about 1 ㎝ width  and 1.5 ㎝ length on hibateral"YangLingQuan"  (GB  34)  of  rats  were dissected out following perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde, and put into 25 % sucrose solution. Serial tissue sections were cut at a thickness of 20 mm on a cryostat. The chemicalexpression of tissue  was demonstrated by using fluorescent immunohistochemical staining for Substance (SP), Calcitonin  gene-related  peptide  (CGRP),  5-Hydroxytryptamine  (5-HT)  and  histamine  (HA).Results:  Compared  with  the  control  group,  the  positive  labeling  of  SP,  CGRP,  5-HT,  HAincreased in the  electroacupuncture  tissue,  in which SP and CGRP mainly around blood vessels and  hair  follicle;  5-HT-labeling  between  the  epidermis  and  dermissubcutaneous  tissue  layer formed a continuous band of enhancement; HA-labeling concentrated the blood vessels of deep dermis and subcutaneous tissue. The length of SP and CGRP positive fibers and the number of 5-HT and HA in electroacupuncture and control tissues were countedrespectively. we found that significant  differences  existed  in  the  electroacupuncture  group  and  control  group(＊P＜0.05). Conclusion:  Nociceptive  neuropeptide  SP,  CGRP  and  active  substances  5-HT,  HA  may  be involved in the transduction pathway of electroacupuncture information.

Key words: electroacupuncture, Calcitonin gene-related peptide, SubstanceP, 5-Hydroxytryptamine, Histamine, Immunohistochemistry