Lin Yuan-Yuan, Su Sheng-Yong, Xu Yi-Yang, Cai Hui-Qian, Zhang Xi, Qin Mei-Xiang, Jiang Fang-Xing, Lin Xin-Ying, Pan Shan-Na
First Clinical Medical College of Guangxi University of CM, Nanning 530001, China.
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of CM, Nanning 530023.
Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2022 May 12;42(5):533-9. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20210404-k0006.
To observe the effect of wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) on the expressions of Beclin-1 and GRP78 in spinal dorsal horn in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR), and to explore the possible analgesic mechanism of wheat-grain moxibustion for CSR.
A total of 48 SD rats were randomly divided into a sham operation group, a model group, a wheat-grain moxibustion group and a wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, 12 rats in each group. The CSR model was prepared by spinal cord insertion method. Three days after modeling, the rats in the model group were intraperitoneally injected with 1 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride solution; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion group were treated with wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time) on the basis of the model group; the rats in the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group were intraperitoneally injected with 3-MA solution and wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14, 6 cones per time). The three groups were intervened for 7 days, once a day. The gait score and mechanical pain threshold were observed before treatment and 7 days into treatment; after the treatment, the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 in spinal dorsal horn were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry; the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was detected by Western blot method; the autophagosomes and ultrastructure in spinal dorsal horn neurons were observed by electron microscope.
After the treatment, compared with the sham operation group, in the model group, the gait score was increased and the mechanical pain threshold was decreased (<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was increased (<0.01). Compared with the model group and the wheat-grain moxibustion+3-MA group, in the wheat-grain moxibustion group, the gait score was decreased and mechanical pain threshold was increased (<0.01), and the expression of GRP78 protein in spinal dorsal horn was decreased, and the expressions of mRNA and protein of Beclin-1 were increased (<0.01). Under electron microscope, the ultrastructure of spinal dorsal horn neurons in the wheat-grain moxibustion group was not significantly damaged, and its structure was basically close to normal, and the number of autophagosomes was more than the other three groups.
Wheat-grain moxibustion at "Dazhui" (GV 14) has analgesic effect on CSR rats. The mechanism may be related to moderately up-regulate the expression of Beclin-1, enhance autophagy and reduce endoplasmic reticulum stress.
观察麦粒灸“大椎”（GV 14）对神经根型颈椎病（CSR）大鼠脊髓背角中Beclin-1和GRP78表达的影响，探讨麦粒灸治疗CSR的可能镇痛机制。
将48只SD大鼠随机分为假手术组、模型组、麦粒灸组和麦粒灸+3-MA组，每组12只。采用脊髓埋线法制备CSR模型。造模3天后，模型组大鼠腹腔注射1 mL 0.9%氯化钠溶液；麦粒灸组大鼠在模型组基础上给予麦粒灸“大椎”（GV 14，每次6壮）；麦粒灸+3-MA组大鼠腹腔注射3-MA溶液并给予麦粒灸“大椎”（GV 14，每次6壮）。三组均干预7天，每天1次。观察治疗前及治疗7天时的步态评分和机械痛阈；治疗后，采用实时荧光定量PCR和免疫组化法检测脊髓背角中Beclin-1的mRNA和蛋白表达；采用Western blot法检测脊髓背角中GRP78蛋白表达；通过电镜观察脊髓背角神经元中的自噬体及超微结构。
治疗后，与假手术组比较，模型组步态评分升高，机械痛阈降低（<0.01），脊髓背角中GRP78蛋白表达升高（<0.01）。与模型组和麦粒灸+3-MA组比较，麦粒灸组步态评分降低，机械痛阈升高（<0.01），脊髓背角中GRP78蛋白表达降低，Beclin-1的mRNA和蛋白表达升高（<0.01）。电镜下，麦粒灸组脊髓背角神经元超微结构无明显损伤，其结构基本接近正常，自噬体数量多于其他三组。
麦粒灸“大椎”（GV 14）对CSR大鼠有镇痛作用。其机制可能与适度上调Beclin-1表达、增强自噬及减轻内质网应激有关。
