薬理と治療

Abstract

Background　Chemotherapy is the main treatment strategy for malignant tumors. Paclitaxel (PTX)is a chemotherapy drug that blocks mitosis but frequently causes chemotherapy–induced peripheral neuropathy(CIPN). Acupuncture(ACU)has been used to treat dysesthesia and paresthesia. Therefore, this study examined the effect of electro–ACU on a PTX–CIPN rat model. Materials and methods　Sprague–Dawley rats were intraperitoneally injected on four alternate days(days 1, 3, 5, and 7)with saline or 2.0 mg/kg PTX. Electro–ACU was applied to the Zusanli(ST36)acupoint on the limbs of rats every alternate day from day 0 or 14(1 Hz, 20 min, and 3–5 V). A mechanical allodynia von Frey hair test was performed on the rat paws in the territory of the sciatic nerve. All rats were sacrificed on day 35; the lumbosacral spinal cord, dorsal root ganglion, and sciatic nerve were collected for microscopic or mRNA expression analyses. Results　The PTX and ACU posttreatment groups showed significant paw allodynia. The ACU pretreatment group exhibited no decrease in the pain threshold. Activated astrocytes were observed in the PTX and ACU posttreatment groups. Furthermore, the ACU pretreatment group showed exhibited increased vascular endothelial growth factor and neuronal nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression compared with the PTX group. The ACU pretreatment groups maintained blood vessel network in the sciatic nerve compared with the PTX group. Conclusion　Acupuncture stimulation for CIPN may be involved in the expression of neuroprotector mediators, thereby reducing glial cell expression in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and preventing central sensitization in CIPN.(Jpn Pharmacol Ther 2026;54:97‒105)