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Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility logoLink to Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility
. 2010 Jul 26;16(3):306–314. doi: 10.5056/jnm.2010.16.3.306

Effect of Electroacupuncture on Visceral Hyperalgesia, Serotonin and Fos Expression in an Animal Model of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Justin CY Wu 1,✉, Eric TC Ziea 1, Lixing Lao 3, Emma FC Lam 1, Catherine SM Chan 1, Angela YQ Liang 1, Sunny LH Chu 1, David TW Yew 2, Brian M Berman 3, Joseph JY Sung 1
PMCID: PMC2912124  PMID: 20680170

Abstract

Background/Aims

While it is well established that acupuncture relieves somatic pain, its therapeutic effect on visceral pain such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is unclear. We evaluated the effect of acupuncture in treating visceral hyperalgesia in an animal model.

Methods

Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 8 per group) with prior neonatal maternal separation stress were randomly allocated to receive 3-day treatment of either electroacupuncture (EA) or sham acupuncture at acupoint ST-36. Another group of rats without prior maternal separation was included as non-handled controls. Colorectal distension was performed on the day after acupuncture treatment. The 3 groups were compared for pain threshold as determined by abdominal withdrawal reflex and visceromotor response as measured by electromyogram. Colon, spinal cord, and brainstem were sampled for topographic distribution and quantitative assessment of serotonin and Fos expression by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Rats in EA group had significantly higher pain threshold compared to those in sham acpuncture group (25.0 ± 5.7 mmHg vs 18.7 ± 5.2 mmHg, p = 0.01) and it was comparable with that of non-handled treatment naïve controls (29.4 ± 9.3 mmHg, p = 0.28). They also had lower visceromotor response as measured by electromyogram compared to those received sham acupuncture at all colorectal distension pressures. EA significantly suppressed Fos expression in doral raphe nuclei of brainstem, superficial dorsal horn of spinal cord and colonic epithelium but suppressed 5-HT expression only in brainstem and spinal cord.

Conclusions

Electro acupuncture attenuates visceral hyperlagesia through down-regulation of central serotonergic activities in the brain-gut axis.

Keywords: Electroacupuncture, Hyperalgesia, Brain-gut axis, Fos, Serotonin

Introduction

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional bowel disorder that is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and disturbed bowel movements with the absence of demonstrable pathology. Albeit a benign condition, IBS is associated with significant morbidity.1 While the pathophysiology of IBS is still poorly understood, it is generally accepted that visceral hyperalgesia plays an important role.2,3 It has been postulated that visceral hyperalgesia is attributed to abnormalities in perception, transmission and processing of visceral nociceptive signals in the brain-gut axis.4-8

Several neurotransmitters have been implicated in the development of visceral hyperalgesia. Amongst them, serotonin (5-HT) hyperactivity has been reported to be associated with visceral hypersensitivity in IBS patients.9,10 The role of 5-HT hyperactivity in IBS was further supported by the effectiveness of 5-HT3 receptor antagonist for treatment of IBS.11 It has been shown that stress in early life contributed to visceral hyperalgesia and subsequent development of IBS in adulthood, and it is probably associated with 5-HT hyperactivity in brain-gut axis.12

Acupuncture has been found to be useful in treatment of various somatic pain and inflammatory conditions.13 The anti-hyperalgesic effect of acupuncture is mainly mediated through activation of descending inhibitory system including opioidergic, adrenergic and serotonergic pathways at both central and peripheral nervous systems.14-19 Acupuncture has also been shown to modulate motility and secretory functions of gastrointestinal tract.20,21 However, the role of acupuncture in treatment of visceral pain such as IBS is less defined. Although some uncontrolled studies reported increased rectal sensory thresholds and improvement in bowel symptoms in IBS patients treated with acupuncture,22,23 these results were not supported in sham controlled study.24 It has been shown that most acupuncture trials for IBS were of poor quality and effect of acupuncture is primarily a placebo response.25-27 The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of electroacupuncture on visceral pain perception and 5-HT expression in brain-gut axis in a central early stress model of visceral hyperalgesia.

Materials and Methods

1. Animal model of visceral hyperalgesia

A rat model of visceral hyperalgesia was developed using neonatal maternal separation stress (NMSS) as described by Coutinho et al28 This was an early life stress model targeted to central nervous system, which induced visceral hyperalgesia in adulthood. Visceral hyperalgesia induced by NMSS was associated with increased serotonergic activities in both central and enteric nervous systems.12 The observations of enhanced anxiety-like behaviors, alterations in serotonergic responsiveness, stress-induced visceral hyperalgesia in this model fulfilled both face and construct validity as an animal model of IBS.

Pregnant female Sprague-Dawley rats were purchased from Laboratory Animal Services Center, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Litters of surviving male pups were randomly housed with one lactating dam per cage and each litter comprising no more than 10 neonates, on a 12:12-hour light-dark cycle (lights on at 7 AM) at room temperature 20℃ until they were 22 days old. The dams had access to food and water ad labium. Litters were weaned on postnatal day 22 and housed in groups of 8 through postnatal day 60. Neonatal maternal separation (MS) was performed during the light component of the cycle. Litters were exposed to a 180-minute period of daily maternal separation on postnatal day 2-21 inclusive. Manipulation of the litters commenced at 0800 hours: dams were removed to separation cages, while each litter was removed as a group to an adjacent room. At the end of the separation period, litters were reunited with their dams in the maternity cages. Another group of rats was not treated with neonatal maternal separation and they served as non-handled controls (NH). The protocols were approved by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of University of Maryland, Baltimore, and the Animal Ethics Committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Animal care and experimental procedures were conducted in accordance with institutional ethics guidelines.

2. Electromyogram

Electromyogram (EMG) electrode implantation was conducted as previously reported.29 On postnatal day 50, the rats were anaesthetized and a pair of non-insulated tips of electrodes (Teflon coated stainless steel wire, Cooner Wire Sales, Chatsworth, CA, USA) was stitched in parallel, 5 mm apart, superior to the inguinal ligament, into the external oblique muscle. The electrodes were threaded subcutaneously to emerge at the back of the neck, where they were secured by a 2-O silk suture. Post-operative wound pain was treated with subcutaneous administration of 0.5% lidocaine and povidone-iodine was applied to the surface of sutured wound to prevent infection. After the procedure, rats were housed individually.

3. Electroacupuncture

On postnatal day 57 (7 days after EMG electrode implantation), the MS rats were randomly allocated to one of the following acupuncture groups: Real electroacupuncture (EA) or sham acupuncture (SA). NH control rats were not given any acupuncture treatment. A modified electroacupuncture technique reported by Lao and Tabosa was used.30 Stainless steel acupuncture needles (gauge #32, 2.5 cm in length) were inserted bilaterally at a depth of 7 mm into the two acupoints of Zusanli (Stomach 36 or ST-36), which were located at 5 mm lateral to the anterior tubercle of the tibia and 10 mm below the knee joint. The paired needles were connected to output terminals of an electroacupuncture apparatus (Cefar® Acus4, Cefar Medical AB, Sweden), and the electrical wires were affixed on the animal's body with adhesive tape. An electrical current of 10 Hz, 0.18 ms pulse width, was delivered for 20 minutes. Stimulation intensity was adjusted to a level that elicited a slight muscle twitch at the acupuncture site and was limited to maximum of 3 mA to minimize animal discomfort.

Sham acupuncture treatment was performed by inserting needles at the acupoints with no electrical stimulation or manual manipulation. During treatment, the un-anaesthetized rats were placed in a 5 × 8 inch transparent plastic chamber where they were unrestrained and allowed to mobilize. Acupuncture was administered once daily for 3 consecutive days in both EA and SA groups from postnatal day 57 to 59.

4. Graded colorectal balloon distension and measurement of visceromotor response

Colorectal balloon distension was used for noxious mechanical stimulation of the colon. A balloon catheter was constructed from a latex glove finger (4 cm of length) attached to an angiocatheter connected via a Y connector to a syringe pump and a sphygmomanometer. On postnatal day 60, animals were sedated with 2% isoflurane in oxygen (inhalation of 0.2 L/min) for 5 minutes. The balloon catheter was inserted into the distal colon 1 cm from the anal verge and secured to the proximal end of rat's tail with tape. The rats were then placed on an elevated platform and allowed to wake up and recover for at least 30 minutes. Phasic Colorectal balloon distension was comprised of 20-second inflation followed by 4-minute interval of deflation with stepwise increase in distension pressure (10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 mmHg). Abdominal withdrawal reflex scores were assessed by a single independent observer who was unaware of the group assignment. Colorectal balloon distension pain threshold was defined as the distension pressure that evoked a visually identifiable contraction of the abdominal wall.31 The measurements were repeated once and the average of the 2 measurements would be used for determination of pain threshold pressure.

Visceromotor responses to Colorectal balloon distension were measured quantitatively by EMG. EMG signals were obtained by an EMG signal receiver linked to a raw data analog converter (Model ML870 PowerLab 8/30, Bio-amplifier: ML132 Bio Amp, AD Instruments) at a rate of 2,000 samples per second using powerLab software (version 5, AD Instruments). Each 20-second Colorectal balloon distension period and its preceding 20-second interval of baseline recording were extracted from the original raw EMG data file. The extracted data was filtered with a bandpass filter (LP, 10 Hz; HP, 500 Hz) to correct for background and environmental noise, and artefacts caused by movement and breathing. Final data sets were obtained by subtracting the 20-second baseline readings from the 20-second Colorectal balloon distension readings. The area under curve (AUC) values were calculated with Matlab software.

5. Immunohistochemistry

Tissue harvesting was performed 1 hour after Colorectal balloon distension stimulation. The time lag allowed for deflating and removing balloon, dismantling syringe pump & sphygmomanometer and administering general anesthesia before cardiac perfusion. The rats were sacrificed by intraperitoneal injection with 7% chlorohydrate (35 mg/100 g body weight) and transcardial perfusion with 0.85% saline (about 100 mL) followed by 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.4, about 300 mL). The tissues from distal colon (6 cm from anus), lumbosacral spinal cord (L6-S1) and brainstem (dorsal raphe nucleus [DRN]) were harvested for immunohistochemical assessment of Fos and 5-HT expression. They were post-fixed in paraformaldehyde overnight, cryoprotected in 25% sucrose in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer for 48 hours, then embedded in OCT compound and frozen in iso-pantane chilled in liquid nitrogen. Sections (20 µm for colon and 40 µm for spinal cord and brain) were frozen at -20℃. Fos, a protein encoded by Fos pro-oncogene, was used as a biomarker for neuronal activation in response to noxious stimuli such as colorectal distension or inflammation.30,32,33 In intestinal epithelium, Fos also served as marker of mast cell or inflammatory cell activation.34,35

Tissues sections were rinsed 3 times for 10 minutes each in 0.01 mol/L phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.4), pre-incubated for 20 minutes with 0.3% H2O2 in 0.01 mol/L PBS, then pre-incubated for 30 minutes with 5% normal goat serum (NGS) in 0.01 mol/L PBS and incubated overnight at room temperature with rabbit anti-Fos polyclonal antibody (rabbit anti-rat, 1 : 16,000, Oncogene Research Products, San Diego, CA, USA) in 0.01 mol/L PBS with 1% NGS and 0.3% Triton X-100. After rinsing, sections were incubated for 90 minutes with secondary goat anti-rabbit immunoglobulin G (1 : 200, Vectastain ABC kit, Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA, USA) in 0.01 mol/L PBS with 1% NGS and 0.3% Triton, rinsed 3 times for 10 minutes each in 0.01 mol/L PBS, incubated for 90 minutes with tertiary antibody (1 : 100, avidin DH/biotinylated horseradish peroxidase H complex, Vectastain ABC kit, Vector Laboratories) in 0.01 mol/L PBS and rinsed 2 × 10 minutes in 0.01 mol/L PBS. A peroxidase reaction was performed to visualize Fos immunolabeling by incubating with 0.05% 3,3-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride and 0.01% H2O2 for 5 minutes before decanting and stopping the reaction with 0.01 mol/L PBS. To assess antibody specificity, incubation with the primary antibody was omitted for some sections and no significant staining was observed in this case.

Similarly, tissues were washed in 0.1 mol/L PBS, incubated with a 5-HT polyclonal antibody (TX rabbit anti-rat, 1 : 1,000, Alpha Diagnostic International, Inc, San Antonio, TX, USA) for 12 hours, followed by a 2-hour incubation of goat anti-rabbit IgG conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (1 : 200, Jackson Immuno Research, West Grove, PA, USA) at room temperature. Primary and secondary antibodies were diluted in 0.3% Triton X-100 (in 0.1 mol/L PBS). NGS (Vectastain ABC kit, Vector Laboratories) was added to a final concentration of 10% to reduce the non-specific background staining.

6. Image analysis

All stained sections of harvested tissue were examined using a Zeiss Axiophot 2 imaging Universal Fluorescence Photo-Microscope with Axio cam (Universal Microscope, Germany). Images were captured by Spot Cooled Color Digital Camera equipped with Spot32 software (Diagnostic Instrument, Sterling Heights, MI, USA). All images were analyzed by Metamorph 4.0 software. This software performed automated measurements through an interactive threshold editing function. Well-stained nuclei of Fos or 5-HT were chosen as reference. The computer recognized these as the standard grayscale level, grouped all the contiguous pixels that fell within that level into "object" and segregated them from the background. Since the pixel density of the background was either lower or higher than "object", any area of the slide equivalent to the standard grayscale was marked as object and designated as the threshold area. In addition, any area lower than or beyond the standard grayscale was marked as background. The percentage of threshold area was calculated as threshold area of the selected area divided by total selected area X 100%.

Serotonin and Fos expression were quantified in the colonic mucosa at 6 cm above anus, superficial dorsal horn (SDH) of spinal cord (lamina I & II) and DRN. Five sections of each tissue were prepared in random fashion for image capture at different magnification (colon, × 200; spinal cord, × 400; and brain, × 100). After interactive thresholding, 5 areas were randomly selected for measurement by the image analysis system. All imaging procedures were performed by a single investigator who was unaware of the grouping of rats.

7. Statistical methods

All data were presented as means ± SE. Statistical analyses were performed by using SPSS11.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). Comparisons between groups were made using unpaired t test, one-way ANOVA and Mann-Whitney U test as appropriate. Differences with two-tailed p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Bonferroni correction was performed for post-hoc analyses.

Results

1. Effect of electroacupuncture on pain threshold and visceromotor response

Twenty-four rats were randomly allocated into 3 groups (n = 8 per group): (1) MS rats with real EA, (2) MS rats with SA and (3) NH treatment naïve rats. Comparisons of mean pain threshold pressures among the 3 groups were shown in Figure 1A. Rats in EA and NH group had significantly higher pain threshold pressures in response to Colorectal balloon distension than those in SA group (EA vs SA, 25.0 ± 5.7 mmHg vs 18.7 ± 5.2 mmHg, p = 0.01; NH vs SA, 29.4 ± 9.3 mmHg vs 18.7 ± 5.2 mmHg, p = 0.02). There was no significant difference in pain threshold pressures between EA and NH rats (p = 0.28).

Figure 1.

Figure 1

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Effect of electroacupuncture on pain threshold and visceromotor response. (A) Rats in electro acupuncture (EA) group and non-handled control (NH) group had significantly higher pain threshold pressures in response to colorectal balloon distension than those in sham acupuncture (SA) group. (B) Rats in SA group had significantly higher mean area under curve values compared to those in EA and NH group at all distension pressures. MS, maternal separation. Data were presented as mean ± SEM. Two-tailed p-values were determined by one-way ANOVA. *p < 0.001, **p < 0.01 for post hoc comparisons of SA to EA and NH group. ***p < 0.05 for post hoc comparisons between EA and NH group using Bonferroni correction.

Visceromotor responses to graded Colorectal balloon distension at different distension pressures as measured by EMG were shown in Figure 1B. Rats in EA group had significantly lower AUC values compared to those in SA group at all distension pressures (10 mmHg, p < 0.001; 20 mmHg, p < 0.001; 40 mmHg, p < 0.001; 60 mmHg, p = 0.003; 80 mmHg, p = 0.004). Furthermore, the AUC values of SA group were also significantly higher than those of NH group at all distension pressures (10 mmHg, p < 0.001; 20 mmHg, p < 0.001; 40 mmH,: p < 0.001; 60 mmHg, p = 0.002; 80 mmHg, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in AUC values at low distension pressures between EA and NH groups but rats in EA group had significantly higher AUC values than those in NH group at higher distension pressures (10 mmHg, p = 0.82; 20 mmHg, p = 0.64; 40 mmHg, p = 0.01; 60 mmHg, p = 0.01; 80 mmHg, p = 0.03).

2. Effect of electroacupuncture on serotonin and Fos expression in brain-gut axis

The serotonin immunoreactivities at different regions were presented in Figure 2. Compared to rats in SA group, rats in EA group had significantly lower 5-HT expression in DRN (p = 0.02) and SDH of spinal cord (p = 0.001) but not in colonic mucosa (p = 0.14) (Table 1). Rats in SA group also had significantly higher 5-HT expression at all the 3 regions compared to those in NH groups. There was no significant difference in 5-HT expression between EA and NH groups.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

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Comparison of serotonin (5-HT) expression between electroacupuncture (EA) and sham acupuncture (SA) groups. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly lower 5-HT expression (arrowed) in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the brain (A, EA; B, SA; ×40) and laminae I & II of superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord (C, EA; D, SA; ×40) in rats treated with EA compared to those treated with SA. There was no difference in 5-HT expression at colonic mucosa between the 2 groups (E, EA; F, SA; ×40).

Table 1.

Comparison of Median Threshold Area Percentages of 5-HT Expression at Dorsal Raphe Nucleus of Brainstem, Superficial Dorsal Horn of Spinal Cord and Colonic Mucosa among Rats of Electroacupuncture, Sham Acupuncture and Non-handled Control Groups

graphic file with name jnm-16-306-i001.jpg

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EA, electroacupuncture; SA, sham acupuncture; NH, non-handled control; DRN, dorsal raphe nucleus; SDH, superficial dorsal horn.

Median values (range) were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Comparisons between EA and SA group (ap = 0.02) and between SA and NH group (bp = 0.006) at DRN of brainstem, comparisons between EA and SA group (cp = 0.001) and between SA and NH group (dp < 0.001) at SDH of spinal cord, comparisons between EA and SA group (ep = 0.14) and between SA and NH group (fp = 0.01) at colonic mucosa.

The Fos immunoreactivities at different regions were presented in Figure 3. Compared to rats in SA group, rats in EA group had significantly lower Fos expression in DRN (p =0.01), SDH of spinal cord (p <0.001) and colonic mucosa (p =0.005) (Table 2). Fos positive cells were highly abundant on colonic epithelium among SA compared to EA rats. Rats in SA group also had significantly higher Fos expression at all the 3 regions compared to NH groups. There was no significant difference in Fos expression between EA and NH groups.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

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Comparison of Fos expression between electroacupuncture (EA) and sham acupuncture (SA) groups. Immunohistochemistry showed significantly lower Fos expression (arrowed) in the dorsal raphe nucleus of the brain (A, EA; B, SA; ×40), laminae I and II of superficial dorsal horn of the spinal cord (C, EA; D, SA; ×40) and colonic mucosa (E, EA; F, SA; ×40) in rats treated with EA compared to those treated with SA. Fos positive cells were highly abundant on colonic epithelium among SA rats compared to EA rats.

Table 2.

Comparison of Median Threshold Area Percentages of Fos Expression at Dorsal Raphe Nucleus of Brainstem, Superficial Dorsal Horn of Spinal Cord and Colonic Mucosa among Rats of Electroacupuncture, Sham Acupuncture and Non-handled Control Groups

graphic file with name jnm-16-306-i002.jpg

Open in a new tab

EA, electroacupuncture; SA, sham acupuncture; NH, non-handled control; DRN, dorsal raphe nucleus; SDH, superficial dorsal horn.

Median values (range) were compared using Mann-Whitney U test. Comparisons between EA and SA group (ap = 0.01) and between SA and NH group (bp = 0.02) at DRN of brainstem, Comparisons between EA and SA group (cp < 0.001) and between SA and NH group (dp < 0.001) at SDH of spinal cord, comparisons between EA and SA group (ep = 0.005) and between SA and NH group (fp = 0.01) at colonic mucosa.

Discussion

We set out to evaluate the effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture for treatment of IBS in a neonatal maternal separation stress model of visceral hyperalgesia. We found that electroacupuncture applied to acupoint ST-36 significantly increased pain threshold and decreased visceromotor response to graded Colorectal balloon distension. The attenuation of visceral pain perception was associated with decreased expression of 5-HT primarily at DRN and SDH of spinal cord but not at colonic mucosa.

There were a few studies reporting the visceral anti-hyperalgesic effect of electroacupuncture using different animal models of visceral hyperalgesia. Using a neonatal colonic irritation model, Cui et al36 reported that electroacupuncture at ST-36 significantly suppressed abdominal withdrawal reflex score and magnitude of EMG in response to Colorectal balloon distension compared to sham treatment group. Tian et al19 further reported that electroacupuncture induced both attenuation of visceral hyperalgesia and stress-induced colonic motor dysfunction, which was associated with decreased 5-HT concentration and increased 5-HT transporter expression in colonic tissue. However, there was no sham control group in this study. Other studies have shown that electroacupuncture also reduced pain via activation of central opioid pathway and down-regulation of spinal cord NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptors.37,38 Yet, there is still a lack of sham-controlled study that evaluates the role of central serotonergic pathway in electroacupuncture induced visceral anti-hyperalgesia.

In this study, we studied the effects of electroacupuncture on both peripheral and central serotonergic activities in a sham-controlled manner. There has been concern about the appropriateness of the use of invasive sham, which involved needle insertion at the acupoints, because of probable non-specific analgesic effects through diffuse noxious inhibitory controls (DNIC).39 We employed invasive sham because it enabled better blinding of investigators. Moreover, any observed difference between real electroacupuncture and sham treatment would be attributed to genuine effects of electroacupuncture rather than DNIC.

Our study showed that electroacupuncture significantly reduced visceromotor response to Colorectal balloon distension compared to sham acupuncture. This finding is consistent with the anti-hyperalgesic effects observed in previous studies.19 Furthermore, we observed that the pain reduction was associated with significant reduction in serotonergic activities and Fos expression. The reduction in 5-HT expression was primarily seen at spinal cord and brainstem. The role of central serotonergic activities in modulation of visceral sensation is poorly understood. The SDH of the spinal cord (laminae I and II) receives input signals from both primary afferents of peripheral organs and serotonergic projections from the brainstem. We have previously reported that neonatal maternal separation stress led to visceral hyperalgesia, which was associated with increased serotonergic activities at SDH of spinal cord and dorsal raphe nucleus.12 On the other hand, serotonergic depletion of the lumbar spinal cord with 5,7-DHT (5,7 di-hydroxytryptamine) creatinine sulphate reduced expression of transcription factors for dorsal horn neurone sensitization (eg, Fos and Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2) and significantly attenuated mechanical sensitivity after injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant.40 These findings suggested that heightened serotonergic activities at SDH of spinal cord and DRN are responsible for visceral hyperalgesia. On the other hand, it has been shown that acupuncture suppresses Fos expression at spinal cord level through descending inhibitory pathway.41 Acupuncture inhibited Colorectal balloon distension-induced neuronal activity in the SDH and the inhibitory effect was absent in spinalized rats.42 It has also been reported that electroacupuncture inhibited gastric ulcer-induced Fos expression in the nucleus of the solitary tract in the brain.43 We postulate that electro-acupuncture at acupoint ST-36 down-regulates descending central serotonergic activities particularly at SDH of spinal cord and DRN, which results in reduction in transcription factors for spinal cord pain sensitization and hence induces visceral anti-hyperalgesic effect.

Another intriguing finding of our study was increased number of Fos positive cells at colonic mucosa in MS rats treated with sham acupuncture and it was reduced by electro-acupuncture. While Fos has been regarded as a marker for neuronal activation, it has also been associated with epithelial cell proliferation, mast cell degranulation and production of proinflammatory cytokines in activated lymphocyte in response to extracellular signals. The observation of increased number of Fos positive cells in colonic epithelium of sham-treated MS rats suggested that early stress on central nervous system may lead to abnormalities in gut mucosal proliferation or mast cell function. And these abnormalities may be reversed with electroacupuncture. Further studies are required to evaluate the role of central serotonergic pathways in regulation of mucosal proliferative and immune functions.

Our findings are somewhat different from previous study, which reported significant reduction in colonic expression of 5-HT with electroacupuncture in a gut-targeted rat model of neonatal colorectal mechanical irritation.19 This discrepancy may be attributed to different animal models employed. However, both studies lend support to the notion that electroacupuncture attenuates peripheral and central serotonergic activities rendered abnormal in early life, depending on the site of insults. Further studies are required to evaluate how electroacupuncture modulates serotonergic activity in brain-gut axis and its differential mechanisms involved in central and peripheral models of visceral hyperalgesia.

In conclusion, electroacupuncture attenuates visceral hyperalgesia in a central rat model of IBS. The anti-hyperalgesic effect is probably mediated by down-regulation of serotonergic activities in central nervous system. These findings provide theoretical basis supporting the use of acupuncture and modulation of central serotonergic system for treatment of IBS.

Acknowledgements

Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of NCCAM. The authors acknowledge all members of this international collaborative project for their collaborative efforts.

Footnotes

Financial support: This study was supported by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number 1-U19-AT003266-01 (PI: Brian Berman, University of Maryland Baltimore), research funds of Department of Medicine & Therapeutics and Li Ka Shing Insitute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Conflicts of interest: None.

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