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Electroacupuncture induces antihyperalgesic effect through endothelin-B receptor in the chronic phase of a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome type I

  • Neuroscience
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A Correction to this article was published on 13 September 2018

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Abstract

Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a disorder that involves abnormal inflammation and nerve dysfunction frequently resistant to a broad range of treatments. Peripheral nerve stimulation with electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used in different clinical conditions to control pain and inflammation; however, the use of EA in the treatment of CRPS is under investigation. In this study, we explore the effects of EA on hyperalgesia and edema induced in an animal model of chronic post-ischemia pain (CPIP model) and the possible involvement of endothelin receptor type B (ETB) in this effect. Female Swiss mice were subjected to 3 h hind paw ischemia/reperfusion CPIP model. EA treatment produced time-dependent inhibition of mechanical and cold hyperalgesia, as well as edema in CPIP mice. Peripheral administration (i.pl.) of BQ-788 (10 nmol), an ETB antagonist, prevented EA-induced antihyperalgesia while intrathecal administration prolonged EA’s effect. Additionally, peripheral pre-treatment with sarafotoxin (SRTX S6c, 30 pmol, ETB agonist) increased EA anti-hyperalgesic effect. Furthermore, the expression of peripheral ETB receptors was increased after EA treatments, as measured by western blot. These results may suggest that EA’s analgesic effect is synergic with ETB receptor activation in the periphery, as well as central (spinal cord) ETB receptor blockade. These data support the use of EA as a nonpharmacological approach for the management of CRPS-I, in an adjuvant manner to ETB receptor targeting drugs.

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Change history

  • 13 September 2018

    The original version of this article contains an error. The Author Francisco José Cidral-Filho incorrectly listed as Francisco José Cidra-Filho. The correct spelling is presented above. The original article has been corrected.

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Funding

The present study was supported by grants from Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina—Curso de Medicina and Programa Unisul de Iniciação Científica (PUIC), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq - 476454/2013-1), and Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa e Inovação do Estado de Santa Catarina (FAPESC-3414/2012), Brazil.

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Author notes

  1. Leidiane Mazzardo-Martins and Daiana Cristina Salm contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program in Neuroscience, Center of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Leidiane Mazzardo-Martins, Daiana Cristina Salm, Elisa C. Winkelmann-Duarte & Kamilla Pamplona Frech

  2. Experimental Neuroscience Laboratory (LaNEx), University of Southern Santa Catarina, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Leidiane Mazzardo-Martins, Daiana Cristina Salm, Júlia Koerich Ferreira, Daniela Dero Lüdtke, Luiz Augusto Oliveira Belmonte, Verônica Vargas Horewicz, Anna Paula Piovezan, Francisco José Cidral-Filho & Daniel Fernandes Martins

  3. Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, University of Southern Santa Catarina, Campus Grande Florianópolis, Palhoça, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Daniela Dero Lüdtke, Luiz Augusto Oliveira Belmonte, Verônica Vargas Horewicz, Anna Paula Piovezan, Francisco José Cidral-Filho & Daniel Fernandes Martins

  4. Integrative Medicine and Acupuncture Division, University Hospital, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Ari Ojeda Ocampo Moré

Authors
  1. Leidiane Mazzardo-Martins
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  2. Daiana Cristina Salm
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Correspondence to Daniel Fernandes Martins.

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Additional information

The original version of this article was revised: The Author Francisco José Cidral-Filho incorrectly listed as Francisco José Cidra-Filho. The correct spelling is presented above.

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Figure S1

EA does not affect locomotive activity. Effect of cumulative treatment with EA from day 7 to 14 after IR upon locomotive activity. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD) (n = 8 animals). EA: electroacupuncture; IR: ischemia and reperfusion. (JPG 120 kb)

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Mazzardo-Martins, L., Salm, D.C., Winkelmann-Duarte, E.C. et al. Electroacupuncture induces antihyperalgesic effect through endothelin-B receptor in the chronic phase of a mouse model of complex regional pain syndrome type I. Pflugers Arch - Eur J Physiol 470, 1815–1827 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00424-018-2192-2

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