【Animal Modeling】-Anterior cingulate cortex mechanism of electroacupuncture at different time interventions on anxiety behavior in pain aversion rats

  Objective To investigate the relieving effect of electroacupuncture on anxiety behavior in pain-aversion rats and its effect on N-methyl-D-aspartate and γ-aminobutyric acid receptors in anterior cingulate cortex.

  Methods All healthy rats were randomly divided into blank (NS) group, model (C-CPA) group, conventional electroacupuncture (EA1) group, and pre-electroacupuncture (EA2) group, and the conditional location avoidance induced by complete Freund's adjuvant was established. (complete Freund's adjuvant induced conditioned place avoidance, C-CPA) pain aversion rat model. The EA1 group received electroacupuncture after the model, and the EA2 group received electroacupuncture 3 days before model establishment to observe the mechanical paw withdrawal thresholds (PWTs) and anxiety behavior of the rats; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of GABA in the ACC. The protein content of receptors NR2A and NR2B of GABAAR, GABABR and NMDA.

  Results Compared with the NS group, the escape scores (CPA scores) of the C-CPA group, the EA1 group and the EA2 group were significantly decreased (P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the groups, indicating that the pain and aversion rat model was established. success. There was no significant change in PWTs in each group before modeling; after modeling, rats in C-CPA group developed hyperalgesia (P<0.01), anxiety behavior (P<0.01); pain sensation in EA1 group and EA2 group Allergies (P<0.01) and anxiety behaviors were relieved (P<0.05), and="" there="" was="" no="" significant="" difference="" between="" the="" two="" groups="" p="">0.05). Compared with the NS group, the expression of GABAAR protein in the affected ACC of the C-CPA group, EA1 group and EA2 group was significantly increased (P<0.05); compared="" with="" the="" c-cpa="" expression="" of="" gabaar="" protein="" in="" affected="" acc="" ea1="" group="" had="" no="" significant="" difference="" p="">0. 05), the EA2 group was significantly reduced (P < 0. 05), but there was no significant difference between the EA1 group and the EA2 group (P> 0. 05). There were no differences in the expression of GABABR, NR2A and NR2B proteins in the affected ACC between the groups (P> 0.05).

  Conclusion Electroacupuncture at different times can alleviate pain and anxiety behaviors in C-CPA pain aversion model rats. The efficacy of pre-electroacupuncture may be related to the inhibition of GABAAR protein expression in the affected ACC.