Acute electroacupuncture inhibits nitric oxide synthase expression in the spinal cord of neuropathic rats

Objectives: To examine the effects of electroacupuncture stimulation on behavioral changes and neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in the rat spinal cord after nerve injury. Methods: Under pentobarbital anesthesia, male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to neuropathic surgery by tightly ligating and cutting the left tibial and sural nerves. Behavioral responses to mechanical stimulation were tested for 2 weeks post-operatively. At the end of behavioral testing, electroacupuncture stimulation was applied to ST36 (Choksamni) and SP9 (Eumleungcheon) acupoints. Immunocytochemical staining was performed to investigate changes in the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive neurons in the L4-5 spinal cord. Results: Mechanical allodynia was observed by nerve injury. The mechanical allodynia was decreased after electroacupuncture stimulation. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression was also decreased in L4-5 spinal cord by electroacupuncture treatment. Discussion: These results suggest that electroacupuncture relieves mechanical allodynia in the neuropathic rats possibly by the inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in the spinal cord. [Neurol Res 2010; 32: 96-100]