Abstract

Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy (CSR) is the most common type of cervical spondylosis, which mainly presents as radioactive neuralgia. Neuralgia is closely related to gliocyte in the central nervous system. Therefore, to investigate the analgesic effect and mechanism of electro-acupuncture on neuralgia in rats with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy based on the neuron-gliocyte-chemokine signaling pathway. The models of rats with neuralgia in cervical spondylotic radiculopathy were established and the intervention of electro-acupuncture and LAA astrocyte inhibitor were carried out. The results found that the content of CGRP, AC, P in C6-C7 primary sensory neuron terminal of the spinal cord segment were significantly decreased in electro-acupuncture group compared with model group. Relative expression of RNA levels of PKC, VGCC, CCL2 and CXC3L1 in electro-acupuncture group were significantly decreased compared with model group. Westernblot detected that the expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, NMDA and AMPA proteins in LAA+electro+acupuncture group were obvioulsy decreased. It indicates that neuralgia is closely related to gliocyte in the central nervous system, and also proves that LAA+electro acupuncture can effectively relieve neuralgia caused by cervical spondylosis.

Keywords: Cervical spondylosis; Ligaments; Intervertebral discs; Cervical spondylotic radiculopathy; Radioactive radiculopathy