Relationship between joint function and circadian rhythm in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis  undergoing acupuncture and moxibustion at acupoints selected based on liver theory

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.3121

Abstract

Abstract: BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of knee osteoarthritis is complex. In recent years, studies have found that circadian rhythm is closely related to knee osteoarthritis, and the liver is related to circadian rhythm to some extent. However, there are rare reports on the influence of acupuncture and moxibustion on the circadian rhythm from the liver theory.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between circadian rhythm and joint function of the articular cartilage when treating osteoarthritis with acupuncture at acupoints associated with the liver.
METHODS: Forty 3-month-old male SPF Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, conventional acupuncture group and acupuncture at acupoints associated with the liver group, with 10 rats in each group. In the latter three groups, the osteoarthritis model was constructed in the right knee joint of rats by surgical modeling. Zusanli+Neixiyan+Waixiyan were selected in the conventional acupuncture group, Yanglinquan+Ganshu+Taichong were selected in the group of acupuncture at acupoint associated with the liver. Open field test, plantar pain threshold test and range of motion of the right knee joint were performed and detected since the 1st week from modeling. After treatment, the pathological structure of cartilage tissues was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. RT-PCR and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of Bmal1 and Clock gene and protein in cartilage tissues.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the average speed and total movement distance were significantly reduced, the rest time was significantly prolonged (P < 0.05), the plantar pain threshold was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), the range of motion of the knee joint was reduced (P < 0.05), the histological score was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the mRNA and protein expressions of Bmal1 and Clock were significantly reduced (P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, all indexes were improved in the conventional acupuncture group and in the group of acupuncture at acupoints associated with the liver (P < 0.05), and a better improvement of each index was in the group of acupuncture at acupoints associated with the liver (P < 0.05). Therefore, it is possible to repair cartilage tissue, relieve osteoarthritic pain and restore joint function by influencing circadian rhythm in chondrocytes.

Key words: bone, knee joint, osteoarthritis, acupuncture and moxibustion, acupoint selection, treatment based on the liver theory, circadian rhythm, plantar pain threshold

CLC Number:

Zhou Xiaohong, Li Bocun, Li Jia, Peng Rui. Relationship between joint function and circadian rhythm in a rat model of knee osteoarthritis undergoing acupuncture and moxibustion at acupoints selected based on liver theory[J]. Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research, 2021, 25(14): 2192-2198.

Figures/Tables 5

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