Effects Of Acupuncture At Fengchi, Waiguan And Yanglingquan On Brain Stem IL-6, TNF-? And CGRP Of Trigeminal Spinal Nucleus In Migraine Rats

Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture at Fengchi,Waiguan and Yanglingquan on brains tem interleukin-6(IL-6)?tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?)and spinal trigeminal nucleus calcitonin gene related peptide(CGRP)expression levels in migraine model rats,and to explore its possible mechanism.Methods:Forty SD rats were randomly divided into blank group,model group,acupuncture group,western medicine group,ten rats in each group.Blank group did not do any treatment.Model group was es tablished by subcutaneous injection of nitroglycerin.Acupuncture group was treated with acupuncture at Fengchi,Waiguan and Yanglingquan.Western medicine group was treated with flunarizine hydrochloride.The behavioral changes of rats were obser ved and 50 % PWT was measured before modeling,af ter modeling and af ter treatment.Af ter treatment,the expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-? in the brainstem were determined by immunohis tochemistr y,and CGRP mRNA in the spinal trigeminal nucleus was detected by RT-qPCR method.Results:1.After modeling,the modeled rats showed ear redness,forelimb head scratching,cage climbing,tail biting,and increased reciprocating activities.The increase in behavioral score(P < 0.01)and the decrease in 50% P W T(P < 0.01)indicated that the modeling was successful.2.Comparison of rat behavioral score: Af ter modeling,compared with blank group,the behavioral scores of rats in model group,acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group increased(P < 0.01).Af ter treatment,compared with model group,behavioral scores of acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group decreased(P < 0.01),and there was no signif icant difference between acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group(P>0.05).3.Comparison of rat 50% PWT: Af ter modeling,compared with blank group,50% PWT of rats in model group,acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group decreased(P< 0.01).Af ter treatment,compared with model group,50% P W T of acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group increased(P<0.01),and there was no signif icant difference between acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group(P>0.05).4.Comparison expression levels of IL-6 and TNF-? in the brainstem and CGRP mRNA in the spinal trigeminal nucleus of rats: Compared with blank group,model group brainstem IL-6,TNF-? positive cells and spinal trigeminal nucleus CGRP mRNA expression levels were increased(P<0.01).Compared with model group,acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group brainstem IL-6,TNF-? positive cells and spinal trigeminal nucleus CGRP m RNA expression levels were decreased(P<0.01).There was no signif icant difference between acupuncture group and wes tern medicine group(P>0.05).Conclusion: Acupuncture at Fengchi,Waiguan and Yanglingquan can alleviate the pain of migraine rats,effectively reduce the expression of IL-6,TNF-? in the brainstem and CGRP in the s pinal trigeminal nucleus of rats,which may be one of the mechanisms of its treatment of migraine.