Effect of Electroacupuncture on Hyperalgesia and Vasoactive Neurotransmitters in a Rat Model of Conscious Recurrent Migraine
Figure 5
Dural fluorescence intensity of the vasoactive neurotransmitters (CGRP and VIP) in the six groups. Fluorescence intensity for vasoactive neurotransmitters was significantly higher in Model group rats with migraine than in those of the sham-operated group rats. Electroacupuncture reduced the intensity of CGRP (yellow arrowheads in (a)) (a, c) and VIP (yellow arrowheads in (b)) (b, d) expression, while nonacupuncture point treatment had no effect on the levels of these vasoactive neurotransmitters in rats with migraine. The red arrowheads in (a, b) represent the middle meningeal artery. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation, n=5/group. Scale bar = 50 μm. ∗P<0.05. CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide; VIP: vasoactive intestinal peptide.