Electroacupuncture Inhibits Pain Memory and Related Anxiety-Like Behaviors by Blockading the GABAB Receptor Function in the Midcingulate Cortex

Abstract

Pain memory is commonly considered an underlying cause of chronic pain and is also responsible for a range of anxiety. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to ameliorate pain memories and exert anti-anxiety effects. Previous research has indicated that GABAergic neurons and/or GABA receptors (GABARs) in the midcingulate cortex (MCC) have potential associations with chronic pain and anxiety. However, there is no known empirical research that has specifically studied the effects of EA on the GABAergic system in the MCC. Here, we used cross-injection of carrageenan to establish the pain memory rats model. Immunofluorescence were used to detect the excitability of GABAergic neurons within MCC. Von Frey filament, elevated zero maze, and open field tests were used to measure mechanical allodynia and anxiety-like behaviors, combined with chemogenetic and pharmacologic technologies. Finally, this study provides evidence that pain memories contribute to generalized negative emotions and that downregulating the activity of GABAergic neurons within MCC could block pain memories and reverse anxiety emotion. Specifically, GABABR is involved in pain memory and related anxiety-like behaviors. Activation of GABAergic neurons in the MCC did not reverse the effects of EA on pain memories and related anxiety-like behaviors, whereas these effects could be reversed by a GABABR agonist. These findings highlight the functional significance of GABABR in the EA-mediated attenuation of pain memories and related anxiety-like behaviors in rats.

Research Trends of Acupuncture Therapy for Chronic Pain-Related Depression or Anxiety from 2003 to 2023: A Bibliometric Analysis

“…His studies primarily concentrate on elucidating the mechanism by which acupuncture impacts CP and anxiety comorbidities. 18,19,[38][39][40] Through the analysis of co-cited authors, Vickers AJ and Berman BM were the most influential authors with the highest cited frequency and highest centrality, respectively. This underscores their crucial impact in the field of acupuncture for the treatment of CPrelated depression or anxiety.…”

Combining various acupuncture therapies with multimodal analgesia to enhance postoperative pain management following total knee arthroplasty: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

“…Through fundamental research, new insights have been gained regarding the mechanisms underlying acupuncture-induced pain relief, including the involvement of peripheral purine signaling ( 36 ) and TRPV channels ( 37 ), which expand upon the established central opioid peptide analgesia paradigm ( 38 ). Simultaneously, acupuncture therapies have been shown to modulate pain sensation, emotion, and memory ( 39 ), thereby enhancing the understanding of its analgesic mechanisms. The field of acupuncture research has long grappled with the challenge of bridging the gap between basic research and clinical practice, but there is growing anticipation that the analgesic mechanisms of acupuncture therapy will be increasingly validated through clinical trials.…”