Electroacupuncture Analgesia Is Improved by Adenoviral Gene Transfer of Dopamine Beta-hydroxylase into the Hypothalamus of Rats

摘要: Electroacupuncture (EA) is a modified form of acupuncture that utilizes electrical stimulation. We previously showed EA stimulated rats were divided into responders sensitive to and non-responders insensitive based on the tail flick latency (TFL) test. The dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) gene was more abundantly expressed in hypothalamus responder than non-responder rats. To determine whether overexpression DBH expression modulate analgesia, we constructed encoding adenovirus which then injected SD Microinjection or control GFP virus had no changes basal pain threshold measured by TFL test without treatment. However, analgesic effect significantly enhanced from seven days after microinjection virus, but not injection virus. higher rat PBS Moreover, did affect body core temperature, weight, motor function learning memory ability. Although functional role remains unclear, our findings suggest promotes analgesia obvious side-effects.