This work was supported by ShanghaiCritical Clinical Specialties ConstructionProject(Grant Number: Shslczdzk04001); the Sailing program of Shanghai Science andTechnology Commission (Grant Number:22YF1444300); Projects within the budget ofShanghai University of Traditional ChineseMedicine(Grant Number: 2021LK091).

This work was carried out at the Pain Lab of the Neurobiology Institute at Fudan University. The experiments were approved and strictly adhered to the guidelines for the protection of laboratory animals established by the International Association for the Study of Pain (LASP) for all surgical procedures and animal handling. Clean-grade Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, consisting of 32 males between 40-50 days old, with an average weight of 220 &#177; 1.38 g, were used for the present study. These rats were obtained from the Exp...

Standardized Tuina Protocol for Rat DRG Compression Model

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W. H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effects+of+acupressure+on+anxiety:+a+systematic+review+and+meta-analysis.">Effects of acupressure on anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.</a> Acupuncture in Medicine: Journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society. 33 (5), 353-359 (2015).</li><li>Hsiung, W. -. T., Chang, Y. -. C., Yeh, M. -. L., Chang, Y. -. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Acupressure+improves+the+postoperative+comfort+of+gastric+cancer+patients:+A+randomised+controlled+trial.">Acupressure improves the postoperative comfort of gastric cancer patients: A randomised controlled trial.</a> Complementary Therapies in Medicine. 23 (3), 339-346 (2015).</li><li>Wu, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neural+interconnection+between+acupoint+&amp;#34;Ch&#233;ngsh&#257;n+(BL57)&amp;#34;+and+sciatic+nerve+in+the+rat.">Neural interconnection between acupoint &amp;#34;Ch&#233;ngsh&#257;n (BL57)&amp;#34; and sciatic nerve in the rat.</a> World Journal of Acupuncture - Moxibustion. 31 (2), 129-135 (2021).</li><li>Banik, R. K., Kabadi, R. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+modified+Hargreaves+method+for+assessing+threshold+temperatures+for+heat+nociception.">A modified Hargreaves method for assessing threshold temperatures for heat nociception.</a> Journal of neuroscience methods. 219 (1), 41-51 (2013).</li><li>Cheah, M., Fawcett, J. W., Andrews, M. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Assessment+of+Thermal+pain+sensation+in+rats+and+mice+using+the+hargreaves+test.">Assessment of Thermal pain sensation in rats and mice using the hargreaves test.</a> Bio-protocol. 7 (16), e2506 (2017).</li><li>Randall, L. O., Selitto, J. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+method+for+measurement+of+analgesic+activity+on+inflamed+tissue.">A method for measurement of analgesic activity on inflamed tissue.</a> Archives Internationales De Pharmacodynamie Et De Therapie. 111 (4), 409-419 (1957).</li><li>Yan, J. -. t. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Science of Tuina. , (2003).</li><li>Himes, B. T., Tessler, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Death+of+some+dorsal+root+ganglion+neurons+and+plasticity+of+others+following+sciatic+nerve+section+in+adult+and+neonatal+rats.">Death of some dorsal root ganglion neurons and plasticity of others following sciatic nerve section in adult and neonatal rats.</a> The Journal of Comparative Neurology. 284 (2), 215-230 (1989).</li></ol>

Our research group has conducted relevant studies on the parameters of Tuina manipulation in early stage. First, it is important to set the force intensity for Tuina manipulation. In clinical Tuina, practitioners adjust the force intensity according to their experience and patients&#39; subjective feelings, achieving the best Tuina effect through communication. However, this is not feasible in animal experiments. In animal experiments, a &#34;response threshold&#34; is used to define the intensity of Tuina manipulation. ...

In clinical settings, it is common to observe neurological pathological pain caused by nerve root compression due to various reasons. The most typical form of this neuropathic pain is lumbar disc herniation (LDH), which is often persistent, recurrent, and difficult to cure. Approximately 9% of the global population is affected by LDH, leading to significant social and economic burdens1. The incidence of this type of neuropathic pain is increasing yearly, with a trend toward younger patients, due to changes in human production and lifestyle2. Despite the use of non-steroidal painkillers, patients&#39; symptoms cannot be completely alleviated. As a result, alternative therapies, such as Tuina, for treating pain caused by LDH have gained increasing attention.
Tuina therapy, a form of conservative treatment for LDH, is widely recommended in various clinical practice guidelines worldwide for preventing and treating lower back pain3,4. Research has shown that Tuina can significantly lower inflammatory factors such as serum IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-&#945;) levels in LDH patients while improving patients&#39; pain and lumbar function impairment5. However, the specific mechanism behind Tuina therapy&#39;s pain-relieving effects remains unclear.
Animal models are a valuable tool for studying neuropathic pain caused by LDH6. They allow for behavioral measurements to evaluate the effectiveness of Tuina therapy and provide samples of the pathological physiology of LDH. For example, samples from the dorsal root ganglia in the thigh can be taken to verify changes in dorsal root ganglion cells. The chronic compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion (CCD) model is commonly used to evaluate the pathological physiology of LDH, as it causes damage to the morphology of dorsal root ganglion cells that are consistent with the pathological changes seen in clinical cases of nerve compression caused by disc herniation7.
Many scholars have conducted several animal experiments on acupressure analgesia8,9,10. However, when implementing acupressure operations on animal models, they often imitate human acupressure. The therapeutic effect of acupressure is affected by factors such as the size, frequency, and the direction of the applied force11,12,13. If the experiment lacks a unified acupressure standard, such as the force, frequency, and duration of the operation, this may cause some deviation in the experimental results. This article introduces a set of acupressure treatment plans based on the characteristics of CCD rats, and promotes the development of standardized acupressure operations in animal models.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>&#34;L&#34; stainless steel rod (4 mm long and 0.4 mm in diameter)</td>
			<td>hand-made</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>For CCD models making</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>ALMEMO admeasuring apparatus</td>
			<td>ahlborn</td>
			<td>2450-1</td>
			<td>Mechanical Withdrawal Threshold test</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Constant temperature slicer CM-1900</td>
			<td>Leica</td>
			<td>1491950C1US</td>
			<td>For specimen production</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disinfectant (iodine) 100 mL/bottle</td>
			<td>LIRCON/Shandong Lilkang</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>For disinfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable sterile syringe 5 mL</td>
			<td>Shanghai Misha Wa Medical Industry</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>For injection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Electron microscope CX-31</td>
			<td>Olympus, Japan</td>
			<td>BJ002318</td>
			<td>For specimen observation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Finger pressure recordings</td>
			<td>Suzhou Changxian Optoelectronic Technology</td>
			<td>CX1003w</td>
			<td>For Tuina manipulation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Foam board (35 cm x 20 cm)</td>
			<td>hand-made</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>It is our homemade apparatus for fixing rats</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>MERSILK W2512</td>
			<td>Johnson &#38; Johnson</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>For tissue suture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Neutral balsam</td>
			<td>Sinopharm Chemical Reagent</td>
			<td>10004160</td>
			<td>For specimen production</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>paraformaldehyde</td>
			<td>China National Chemical Reagent</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>For specimen production</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pentobarbital sodium</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P3761</td>
			<td>For anesthesia of rat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plantar Test Apparatus (Hargreaves Method) for Mice and Rats</td>
			<td>IITC Life Science</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>Paw Withdrawal Latency</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Precision electronic scale for experiment JY3002</td>
			<td>Shanghai Precision Scientific Instrument</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>Weighing of rat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Rat hair clipper</td>
			<td>Philips</td>
			<td>HP6341/00</td>
			<td>Shaving of rat fur</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Restrainer for rats</td>
			<td>Tongji University (self-made)</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>It is a homemade apparatus made by Tongji University, which can effectively immobilize the rats and fully expose their hind limbs.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tissue-Tek&#160;O.C.T. Compound</td>
			<td>SAKURA</td>
			<td>4583</td>
			<td>For specimen production</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Uratan</td>
			<td>China National Chemical Reagent</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>For anesthesia of rat</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>X-ray detector XR-600</td>
			<td>Dongguan Kaso Electronic Technology</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>Examination of CCD models</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>xylene</td>
			<td>Shanghai Sinopharm Group</td>
			<td>100092</td>
			<td>For specimen production</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

analgesic effect of tuina on rat models with compression of the dorsal root ganglion pain

Neuropathic pain is a prevalent condition that affects 6.9%-10% of the population and results from nerve damage due to various etiologies, such as lumbar disc herniation, spinal canal stenosis, and intervertebral foramen stenosis. Although Tuina, a traditional Chinese manual therapy, has shown analgesic effects in clinical practice for the treatment of neuropathic pain, its underlying neurobiological mechanisms remain unclear. Animal models are essential for elucidating the basic principles of Tuina. In this study, we propose a standardized Tuina protocol for rats with compression of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), which involves inducing DRG compression by inserting a stainless steel rod into the intervertebral foramen, performing Tuina manipulation with specific parameters of location, intensity, and frequency in a controlled environment, and assessing the behavioral and histopathological outcomes of Tuina treatment. This article also discusses the potential clinical implications and limitations of the study and suggests directions for future research on Tuina.

Author Spotlight: Analgesic Effect of Tuina on Rat Models with Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion Pain  

Analgesic Effect of Tuina on Rat Models with Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion Pain

Tuina analgesia is widely used in clinical practice. Our research focuses on the mechanism of action of Tuina analgesia, and investigate how Tuina achieve its analgesic effect. Achieving standardization in Tuina is currently the most significant obstacle.The effectiveness of Tuina is influenced by several factors such as treatment, area type, intensity, and frequency. The current protocol is optimized in two aspect based on the earlier research. Firstly, the force and frequency of pushing and holding operations were standardized and controlled by force-measuring gloves.Secondly, the results of imaging and animal behavior test were integrated to assess the results of modeling.

Tuina therapy can help decrease rats&#39; mechanical and thermal stimulation thresholds caused by CCD modeling 
After 17 days of Tuina therapy, a significant difference was observed in PWT thresholds between the CCD rats receiving Tuina therapy and the untreated CCD group (P = 0.021, &#60;0.05) (Figure 6 and Table 1).
The rats in the CCD group receiving Tuina therapy showed improvement in pain threshold from the begi...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Analgesic Effect of Tuina on Rat Models with Compression of the Dorsal Root Ganglion Pain at JoVE.com

This article presents a manipulation for treating chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion in rats using Tuina therapy, along with a method for evaluating its effectiveness based on pain behavior and histopathological results.

Neuropathic pain is a prevalent condition that affects 6.9%-10% of the population and results from nerve damage due to various etiologies, such as lumbar ...

analgesic-effect-tuina-on-rat-models-with-compression-dorsal-root

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Establishment of Murine Chronic Root Ganglion Compression Model

To establish the animal model, start by securing an anesthetized rat on a foam board, fastening its limbs and incisors using rubber bands. Wipe the prepared area with a 75%alcohol swab. Next, use scissors to make a two to three centimeter incision through the skin, superficial fascia, and deep fascia layer by layer.Locate the anterior superior iliac spine, followed by the third and fourth spinous processes. Clamp the spinous process with toothed forceps and lift it to allow the scissors to be close to the right side of the spinous process. Cut the muscle attached to the right side of the spinous process.Then bluntly dissect the muscle attached to the outer surface of the vertebral plate until resistance is felt. Similarly, bluntly dissect the muscle and fascia on the zygapophysial joint. Use an L-shaped probe to locate the intervertebral foramen.Next, insert an L-shaped stainless steel rod into the fourth and fifth lumbar intervertebral foramen. Proceed to suture the muscle, fascia, and skin layer by layer using 3-0 sutures. Place the rat in a thermostatic box until it wakes up and observe the function of the rat's right hind limb to ensure normalcy.

Tuina Therapy Administration to Murine Root Ganglion Compression Model

To standardize the tuina therapy, first, practice tuina using the finger sleeves feedback data, adjusting force to 5 newtons and frequency to 2 hertz. Next, perform tuina on immobilized rats, maintaining consistent force and frequency. Identify the acupoint by selecting the gastrocnemius muscle of the right hind limb at the junction of its two heads, approximately at BL 57.Perform the tuina by positioning the thumb vertically on the BL 57 acupoint and moving in rhythmic, small-range rotary motions exerting 5 newtons of pressure. After 17 days of tuina therapy, a significant difference was observed in paw withdrawal thresholds between the CCD rats receiving tuina therapy and the untreated CCD group. The rats in the CCD group receiving tuina therapy showed improvement in pain threshold from the beginning of treatment.Thermal pain thresholds differed significantly between the CCD group and the tuina group from day 14.

Murine Pain Behavioral Testing to Study the Effect of Tuina Therapy

To conduct the Von Fray test, begin by placing the rats in a transparent tempered glass compartment on a metal wire grid stand at a height of 40 centimeters. Next, measure the mechanical withdrawal threshold with Von Frey electronic fibers. Stimulate the rat's foot until it reacts noticeably, such as by lifting the leg or avoiding it.To assess the paw withdrawal latency, or PWL using the Hargreaves method, focus the spotlight on the center of the rat's foot and press the start button. Monitor the rat for behaviors such as foot retraction or paw licking, and press the start button again to record the time. Perform the test on the same hind limb three consecutive times.After 17 days of Tuina therapy, a significant difference was observed in paw withdrawal thresholds between the CCD rats receiving Tuina therapy and the untreated CCD group. The rats in the CCD group receiving Tuina therapy showed improvement in pain threshold from the beginning of treatment. Thermal pain thresholds differed significantly between the CCD group and the Tuina group from day 14.

889 Views.  Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional  Chinese Medicine.  This article presents a manipulation for treating chronic compression of the dorsal root ganglion in rats using Tuina therapy, along with a method for evaluating its effectiveness based on pain behavior and histopathological results.

Standardized Tuina Protocol for Rat DRG Compression Model

Summary