The Expression Patterns of c-Fos and c-Jun Induced by Different Frequencies of Electroacupuncture in the Brain

Abstract

To investigate patterns of c-Fos and c-Jun expression induced by different frequencies of electroacupuncture (EA) in the brain, goats were stimulated by EA of 0, 2, 60, or 100 Hz at a set of “Baihui, Santai, Ergen, and Sanyangluo” points for 30 min. The pain threshold was measured using the potassium iontophoresis method. The levels of c-Fos and c-Jun were determined with Streptavidin-Biotin Complex immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the pain threshold induced by 60 Hz was 82.2% higher (P < 0.01) than that by 0, 2, or 100 Hz (6.5%, 35.2%, or 40.9%). EA induced increased c-Fos and c-Jun expression in most analgesia-related nuclei and areas in the brain. Sixty Hz EA increased more c-Fos or c-Jun expression than 2 Hz or 100 Hz EA in all the measured nuclei and areas except for the nucleus accumbens, the area septalis lateralis, the caudate nucleus, the nucleus amygdala basalis, and the locus coeruleus, in which c-Fos or c-Jun expressions induced by 60 Hz EA did not differ from those by 2 Hz or 100 Hz EA. It was suggested that 60 Hz EA activated more extensive neural circuits in goats, which may contribute to optimal analgesic effects.

Analgesic Neural Circuits Are Activated by Electroacupuncture at Two Sets of Acupoints

“…Acupoint is another important factor influencing EAA. Studies have demonstrated that EA stimulation at a set of Baihui and Santai acupoints can elicit an effective analgesia in goats [ 28 , 31 – 33 ]. Zusanli acupoint has been widely used to induce analgesic effect in rats [ 8 ], rabbits [ 40 ], and humans [ 4 ].…”

“…Here the acupoints are nominated with Pinyin Naming System instead of the Meridian Numbering System because animal's meridians are not completely recorded. The anatomical locations of these acupoints have been described in detail for use in veterinary medicine [ 28 , 31 – 33 ]. The Baihui acupoint was identified on the dorsal midline between the spinous processes of the last lumbar and the first sacral vertebrae.…”

“…When the liquid became transparent, 4% percent paraformaldehyde instead of the physiological saline was infused for 1 h. The pituitary gland, brain, and a part of the cervical spinal cord C1 were taken out of the skull and cervical vertebral canal. The brain was transected into 8 blocks (B 1–8) with the method described by Qiu et al [ 31 ]. The vertical interaural plane represented the zero reference point for the anterior-posterior coordinates, and the horizontal zero plane (H0) intersected the interaural point and a point 25 mm above the lower margin of the orbit.…”

The Modulatory Effect of Acupuncture on the Activity of Locus Coeruleus Neuronal Cells: A Review

“…In our included studies, most of low-frequency stimulated EA decreased the activity of the LC whereas high frequency increased the activity of the LC, except in the studies of Kwon et al [ 26 ], Lee and Beitz [ 25 ], and Qiu et al [ 28 ]. In the studies of Kwon et al and Lee and Beitz, the low frequency (4 Hz) of EA increased the c-Fos expression in the LC.…”

“…Qiu et al [ 28 ] used two-year-old healthy hybrid male goats to evaluate the levels of c-Fos and c-Jun expression induced by EA in the brain. EA were administered at a set of GV20, Santai, Ergen (AH1), and Sanyangluo (TE8), and four different frequencies, such as 0, 2, 60, and 100 Hz, were used.…”