Journal of Molecular Neuroscience, 2024 · DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12031-024-02276-6 · Published: October 17, 2024
This study investigates how electroacupuncture (EA) at different frequencies (2 Hz, 100 Hz, and 18 kHz) affects neuropathic pain in mice caused by sciatic nerve damage. The goal is to find out which frequency works best for pain relief and how it works. The researchers measured the mice's sensitivity to pain using mechanical and thermal tests. They also looked at inflammatory markers and neuropeptides in the spinal cord, as well as gene activity using RNA sequencing. The study found that EA at 18 kHz provided the best and longest-lasting pain relief. It also reduced neuronal excitability in the spinal cord by affecting the serotonergic pathway.
The finding that 18 kHz EA provides superior and prolonged pain relief suggests that this frequency could be more effective in clinical settings for managing neuropathic pain.
Understanding that different EA frequencies affect different mechanisms (neuropeptide release vs. serotonergic pathway) allows for more targeted and personalized treatment approaches.
The study highlights the need for further research into the specific effects of 18 kHz EA on the serotonergic pathway and its potential impact on neuronal synaptic plasticity and neuroglia cells in the spinal cord.