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ST36 laser acupuncture reduces pain-related behavior in rats: involvement of the opioidergic and serotonergic systems

Lasers in Medical Science volume 28, pages 1345–1351 (2013)Cite this article

Abstract

Laser acupuncture is a modality of low-level light therapy used as an alternative to needling for the past three decades. Although it has proved effective for the treatment of various conditions, the mechanisms underlying its effects are not fully understood. To contribute to this understanding, this study was designed to (1) evaluate the antinociceptive effect of ST36 laser acupuncture (830 nm, 3 J/cm2) in rat models of acute nociception and (2) to investigate the opioidergic and serotonergic systems involvement in this effect. Our results demonstrate that ST36 laser acupuncture inhibited (36 ± 2 %) acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions and both neurogenic (48 ± 7 %) and inflammatory (phase IIA 42 ± 8 % and phase IIB 83 ± 6 %) phases of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior. Moreover, the antinociceptive activity of laser irradiation in the acetic acid test was significantly reversed by preadministration of naloxone (1 mg/kg, nonselective opioid receptor antagonist), pindolol (1 mg/kg, subcutaneous; nonselective 5-HT 1A/B receptor antagonist), and ketanserin (1 mg/kg; selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist) but not by ondansetron (1 mg/kg, selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist). Taken together, our data demonstrate, for the first time, that (1) ST36 laser acupuncture elicited significant antinociceptive effect against acetic acid- and formalin-induced behavior in rats and that (2) this effect is mediated by activation of the opioidergic and serotonergic (5-HT1 and 5-HT2A receptors) systems.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Tecnologia em Saúde, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Paraná (PUCPR), Rua Imaculada Conceição, 1155, Curitiba, 80215-901, Paraná, Brazil

    Vanessa Erthal & Percy Nohama

  2. Laboratório de Neurobiologia da Dor e Inflamação, Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário, Trindade, Florianópolis, 88040-900, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Vanessa Erthal, Morgana Duarte da Silva, Francisco J. Cidral-Filho & Adair Roberto Soares Santos

Authors
  1. Vanessa Erthal
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  2. Morgana Duarte da Silva
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  3. Francisco J. Cidral-Filho
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  4. Adair Roberto Soares Santos
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  5. Percy Nohama
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Correspondence to Percy Nohama.

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Erthal, V., da Silva, M.D., Cidral-Filho, F.J. et al. ST36 laser acupuncture reduces pain-related behavior in rats: involvement of the opioidergic and serotonergic systems. Lasers Med Sci 28, 1345–1351 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-012-1260-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-012-1260-7

Keywords

  • Nociception
  • Low-level laser therapy
  • Laser acupuncture
  • Opioidergic system
  • Serotonergic system