Efficacy of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling on Sciatic Nerve Pain: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Changes in a Chronic Constriction Injury Rat Model

Po-En Chiu; Zhonghua Fu; De-Wei Lai; Li-Wei Chou

doi:10.3791/65406

Efficacy of Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling on Sciatic Nerve Pain: Behavioral and Electrophysiol...

JoVE Journal
Medicine

A subscription to JoVE is required to view this content. Sign in or start your free trial.

JoVE Journal Medicine

Efficacy of Fu’s Subcutaneous Needling on Sciatic Nerve Pain: Behavioral and Electrophysiological Changes in a Chronic Constriction Injury Rat Model

Full Text

2,790 Views

08:20 min

June 30, 2023

DOI: 10.3791/65406-v

Po-En Chiu*^1,2, Zhonghua Fu*^3,4, De-Wei Lai^5,6, Li-Wei Chou^7,8,9

¹Department of Chinese Medicine,Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, ²Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine,China Medical University, ³Institute of Fu's Subcutaneous Needling,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, ⁴Clinical Medical College of Acupuncture & Moxibustion and Rehabilitation,Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, ⁵Experimental Animal Center, Department of Molecular Biology and Cell Research,Chang Bing Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, ⁶Department of Pharmacy and Master Program,Tajen University, ⁷Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,China Medical University Hospital, ⁸Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science,China Medical University, ⁹Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Asia University Hospital,Asia University

Overview

This research investigates the analgesic effect of Fu's subcutaneous needle therapy and low-frequency electrotherapy in a chronic constriction injury model to induce sciatic nerve pain in rats. The study aims to explore non-pharmacological treatment options for neuropathic pain.

Key Study Components

Area of Science

Neuroscience
Pain Management
Therapeutic Interventions

Background

Chronic constriction injury is a model for studying neuropathic pain.
Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy is being evaluated as a treatment option.
Current challenges include minimizing discomfort during procedures.
Behavioral and electrophysiological assessments are crucial for evaluating pain responses.

Purpose of Study

To demonstrate the therapeutic effect of Fu's needle therapy on neuropathic pain.
To establish a reliable chronic constriction injury model in rats.
To bridge basic research and clinical applications for improved patient outcomes.

Methods Used

Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy applied to rats.
Low-frequency electrotherapy as a comparative treatment.
Behavioral assessments to evaluate pain responses.
Electrophysiological testing to measure therapeutic effects.

Main Results

Demonstrated therapeutic effects of Fu's therapy on neuropathic pain.
Established a protocol for evaluating treatment efficacy.
Highlighted the importance of behavioral and electrophysiological assessments.
Provided insights for future research directions in nerve compression-related diseases.

Conclusions

Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy shows promise as a non-pharmacological treatment for neuropathic pain.
The study contributes to understanding disease mechanisms for effective treatments.
Future research will incorporate immunohistochemistry to validate findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy?

Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment aimed at alleviating pain through targeted needling techniques.

How does chronic constriction injury relate to neuropathic pain?

Chronic constriction injury is a widely used model to study neuropathic pain mechanisms and potential treatments in research settings.

What are the main challenges in this study?

Challenges include minimizing discomfort during needling procedures and accurately assessing pain responses in animal models.

What methods were used to assess the effectiveness of the treatments?

The study employed behavioral assessments and electrophysiological testing to evaluate the therapeutic effects of the treatments.

What are the implications of this research?

This research may lead to improved non-pharmacological treatment options for neuropathic pain, enhancing patient outcomes.

We present a protocol for using Fu's subcutaneous needling in a chronic constriction injury model to induce sciatic nerve pain in rats.

This research investigates the analgesic effect of Fu's subcutaneous needle therapy and low-frequency electrotherapy in rats with chronic constriction injury and neuropathic pain. It explores non-pharmacological treatment options for neuropathic pain and examines the potential of FSN therapy as an effective intervention. The current experimental challenges include developing appropriate needle techniques to reduce discomfortable in rats during Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy, conducting needling procedures and the swaying movements without anesthesia, establishing a reliable and a reproducible chronical constrict injury model in rats, and accurately assessing behavior patterns and the electrophysiologic responses in neuropathic pain models.

The significant finding from this study include demonstrating the therapeutic effect of treatment on neuropathic pain in red chronic construction injury models, and the presenting a protocol for evaluating the therapeutic effect using SFI and the electrophysiological testing after Fu's over TENS treatment. The findings of this study will advance research in the field by providing a protocol for evaluating Fu's N treatment, bridging basic research and clinical application, improving patient's outcomes, and enhancing understanding of disease mechanisms for more effective treatments in neuropathic pain. In the future our laboratory aims to incorporate immunohistochemistry and the morphological aberration to validate the effectiveness of Fu's subcutaneous needling therapy in nerve compression related disease.

View the full transcript and gain access to thousands of scientific videos