Spinal GABA receptors mediate the suppressive effect of electroacupuncture on cold allodynia in rats

This study was performed to determine whether spinal GABAergic systems mediate the relieving effects of low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) on cold allodynia in a rat tail model of neuropathic pain. For neuropathic surgery, the right superior caudal trunk was resected at the level between the S1 and S2 spinal nerves innervating the tail. Two weeks after the nerve injury, the intrathecal catheter was implanted. Five days after the catheterization, rats were intrathecally injected with gabazine (GABAA receptor antagonist, 0.0003, 0.001 or 0.003 μg), or saclofen (GABAB receptor antagonist, 3, 10 or 30 μg). Ten minutes after the injection, EA (2 Hz) was applied to the ST36 acupoint for 30 min. The cold allodynia was assessed by the tail immersion test (i.e. immersing the tail in cold (4 °C) water and measuring the latency of an abrupt tail movement) before and after the EA treatment. EA stimulation at ST36 significantly inhibited the cold allodynia sign, whereas EA at non-acupoint and plain acupuncture at ST36 (without electrical stimulation) did not show antiallodynic effects. Intrathecal administration of gabazine or saclofen blocked the relieving effects of ST36 EA stimulation on cold allodynia. These results suggest that spinal GABAA and GABAB receptors mediate the suppressive effect of low frequency EA on cold allodynia in the tail neuropathic rats.