Antipruritic effect of cold stimulation at the Quchi Acupoint (LI11) in Mice

Abstract

BackgroundAcupuncture and moxibustion are used to treat pruritus and atopic dermatitis. However, whether cold stimulation (defined as that the temperature conducted under skin temperature) of acupoints affects itching in experimental murine models remains unclear.MethodsThe present study was designed to determine the therapeutic effects of different thermal stimulations at the Quchi acupoint (LI11) in a murine model in which scratching behaviour was elicited by subcutaneous injection with a pruritogenic agent (compound 48/80). Male ICR mice were divided into several groups as follows: control (saline), those receiving compound 48/80 and compound 48/80 with various thermal stimulations (5°C–45°C) at LI11 (n = 6 per group). The scratch response of each animal to these stimulations was recorded for 30 min. The antipruritic effect of the acupoint was further evaluated in LI11 and sham (non-acupoint) groups (n = 6 per group).ResultsTreatment with lower temperature (20°C) at the LI11 acupoint significantly attenuated compound 48/80-induced scratching; however, this antipruritic effect was not observed with stimulation at the sham point. The expression of c-fos in the neuron of the cervical spine induced by compound 48/80 was suppressed by cold stimulation at LI11. The antipruritic effect of cold stimulation was blocked by ruthium red (RR), a non-selective transient receptor potential (TRP) channel blocker, suggesting that TRP channels may play an important role in the antipruritic effect of cold stimulation at LI11 in mice.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that cold stimulation at LI11 attenuated compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviour in mice, possibly by a TRP-related pathway.

Water-separated part of Chloranthus serratus alleviates lipopolysaccharide- induced RAW264.7 cell injury mainly by regulating the MAPK and Nrf2/HO-1 inflammatory pathways

“…Inflammation can occur in tissues and organs in different parts of the body, due to conditions such as pneumonia, hepatitis and nephritis. Excessive inflammatory factors produced during inflammation can damage the body directly or indirectly [13]. In this study, RAW264.7 macrophages were used as the research object to elucidate the effect of CSSPW on inflammatory factors and mediators as well as related proteins, thus confirming the anti-inflammatory effect of CSSPW.…”

Comparative Study of Classical and Alternative Therapy in Dogs with Allergies

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Efficacy of acupoint stimulation as a treatment for uremic pruritus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…EA at LI11 and SP10 could improve pruritus due to reducing the expression of TLR2, TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB which increased in the morphine-induced pruritus model mice ( 61 ). Cold stimulation (20°C) at LI11 in compound 40/80-induced mice showed decreased c-fos expression in the dorsal horn at C2-C7 and decreased scratching bouts ( 62 ). The treatment frequency was about two to three times per week and decreased VAS, PMS, and DRKS scores confirmed the efficacy of the acupuncture.…”