Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints
Electrical skin measurements at acupuncture points (acupoints) have been utilized as a diagnostic and therapeutic aid for more than 50 years. Although acupoints are described as having distinct electrical properties, such as high conductance and low impedance, the underlying mechanisms are currently...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2018-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2018.00907/full |
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| author | Yu Fan Do-Hee Kim Yeonhee Ryu Suchan Chang Bong Hyo Lee Chae Ha Yang Hee Young Kim |
| author_facet | Yu Fan Do-Hee Kim Yeonhee Ryu Suchan Chang Bong Hyo Lee Chae Ha Yang Hee Young Kim |
| author_sort | Yu Fan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Electrical skin measurements at acupuncture points (acupoints) have been utilized as a diagnostic and therapeutic aid for more than 50 years. Although acupoints are described as having distinct electrical properties, such as high conductance and low impedance, the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. The present study investigated in a rat model of hypertension whether the high conductance at acupoints is a result of the release of the neuropeptides substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) during neurogenic inflammation in the referred pain area. When plasma extravasation from neurogenic inflammation was examined by exploring the leakage of intravenously injected Evans blue dye (EBD) to the skin, extravasated EBD was found most frequently in acupoints on the wrist. The increased conductance and temperature at these acupoints occurred during the development of hypertension. The increase in conductance and plasma extravasation at acupoints in hypertensive rats was ablated by cutting median and ulnar nerves, blocking small diameter afferent fibers with resiniferatoxin (RTX) injection into median and ulnar nerves, or antagonizing SP or CGRP receptors in acupoints. In turn, intradermal injection of SP or CGRP resulted in increased conductance and plasma extravasation in naïve rats. Elevated levels of SP and CGRP were found in the acupoints of hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that the high conductance at acupoints is due to vascular leakage following local release of SP and CGRP during neurogenic inflammation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:00:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e0197a4b751147f38edacd59123ed080 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1662-453X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:00:42Z |
| publishDate | 2018-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-e0197a4b751147f38edacd59123ed0802022-12-22T03:35:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Neuroscience1662-453X2018-12-011210.3389/fnins.2018.00907425777Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of AcupointsYu Fan0Do-Hee Kim1Yeonhee Ryu2Suchan Chang3Bong Hyo Lee4Chae Ha Yang5Hee Young Kim6Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South KoreaDepartment of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South KoreaKorean Medicine Fundamental Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon, South KoreaDepartment of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South KoreaDepartment of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South KoreaDepartment of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South KoreaDepartment of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, South KoreaElectrical skin measurements at acupuncture points (acupoints) have been utilized as a diagnostic and therapeutic aid for more than 50 years. Although acupoints are described as having distinct electrical properties, such as high conductance and low impedance, the underlying mechanisms are currently unknown. The present study investigated in a rat model of hypertension whether the high conductance at acupoints is a result of the release of the neuropeptides substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) during neurogenic inflammation in the referred pain area. When plasma extravasation from neurogenic inflammation was examined by exploring the leakage of intravenously injected Evans blue dye (EBD) to the skin, extravasated EBD was found most frequently in acupoints on the wrist. The increased conductance and temperature at these acupoints occurred during the development of hypertension. The increase in conductance and plasma extravasation at acupoints in hypertensive rats was ablated by cutting median and ulnar nerves, blocking small diameter afferent fibers with resiniferatoxin (RTX) injection into median and ulnar nerves, or antagonizing SP or CGRP receptors in acupoints. In turn, intradermal injection of SP or CGRP resulted in increased conductance and plasma extravasation in naïve rats. Elevated levels of SP and CGRP were found in the acupoints of hypertensive rats. These findings suggest that the high conductance at acupoints is due to vascular leakage following local release of SP and CGRP during neurogenic inflammation.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2018.00907/fullsubstance PCGRPacupointselectrical propertiesskin conductanceEvans blue dye |
| spellingShingle | Yu Fan Do-Hee Kim Yeonhee Ryu Suchan Chang Bong Hyo Lee Chae Ha Yang Hee Young Kim Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints Frontiers in Neuroscience substance P CGRP acupoints electrical properties skin conductance Evans blue dye |
| title | Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints |
| title_full | Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints |
| title_fullStr | Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints |
| title_short | Neuropeptides SP and CGRP Underlie the Electrical Properties of Acupoints |
| title_sort | neuropeptides sp and cgrp underlie the electrical properties of acupoints |
| topic | substance P CGRP acupoints electrical properties skin conductance Evans blue dye |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fnins.2018.00907/full |
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