| Abstract: | Objective The present study was to observe the expression of COX-2 protein in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in rats with chronic inflammatory pain to investigate whether COX-2 is involved in the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia. Methods After EA treatment, the pain score and expression of COX-2 protein in the dorsal horn of spinal cord in rats with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis were measured by the behavioral test and immunohistochemistry technique, and compared with those of the normal group, model group and medicine group. Results EA could decrease the pain score significantly and repeated EA treatments had the remarkable cumulative analgesic effect; and with the increase in EA treatments, the number of COX-2 immunoreactive cells was obviously decreased. Conclusion EA at acupoints Yanglingquan (GB 34) and Kunlun (BL 60) had remarkable analgesic effect on adjuvant arthritis rats; and in the meantime, could inhibit the expression of COX-2 protein in the dorsal horn of spinal cord. Foundation Item: Supported by Shanghai Key Project of TCM 2000(3) and Shanghai Science and Technology Committee (02DZ1915001) |
