[Animal experiment]-The effect of acute incision pain on the expression of connexin Cx43 in the spinal dorsal horn of rats

  Objective: To observe the effect of acute incision pain on the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) in the spinal dorsal horn of rats.

  Methods: 80 male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group and an acute incision model group. In the incision pain model group, a longitudinal incision was made on the left hind paw of all rats, and the incision pain model was prepared before and after the operation . The changes in the mechanical contraction threshold of the left hind paw of rats were measured at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 hours by von Freefilament method. The left spinal dorsal horn tissues of rats were collected before operation and 2 and 4 hours after operation, and the changes of Cx43 protein expression in the spinal dorsal horn were detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence labeling method.

  Results: The 50% mechanical contraction threshold of rats in the acute incision pain group was significantly reduced within 24 hours after the operation, and was most significant at 2 and 4 hours. Compared with the control group, the difference was the biggest difference with statistical significance (P\ u003c0.01); Westernblot results showed that the expression of Cx43 in the posterior horn of the spinal cord in the acute incision group increased significantly at 2 and 4 hours after surgery, which was significantly different from the control group (P\u003c0.01). The fluorescence results showed that the immunofluorescence intensity of Cx43 in the acute incision group increased significantly at 2, 4, and 24 hours after surgery. However, this is significantly different from the control group (P\u003c0.01).

  Conclusion: Acute incision pain can significantly increase the expression of connexin Cx43 in the spinal dorsal horn. Connexin Cx43 may be involved in the development of acute open pain.