Comparison of the analgesic effects between electro-acupuncture and moxibustion with visceral hypersensitivity rats in irritable bowel syndrome

Figure 1 Effects of electro-acupuncture with different current intensities on the activation of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. ^bP < 0.01, vs the NC group; ^dP < 0.01, vs EA 1 mA group. IBS: Irritable bowel syndrome.

Figure 2 Effects of moxibustion with different temperatures on the activation of wide dynamic range neurons in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, vs the NC group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01, vs Mox 43 °C group. Mox: Moxibustion.

Figure 3 Abdominal withdrawal reflex scores comparison. ^bP < 0.01, vs the MC group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01, vs the NC group.

Figure 4 Change of mast cells activity in the colon. A: Number of mast cells in colonic mucosa, ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, vs the MC group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01, vs the NC group; B: Mast cells degranulation(%) in colonic mucosa. ^bP < 0.01, vs the MC group; ^dP < 0.01 vs the NC group; ^eP < 0.05, ^fP < 0.01, vs the Mox 46 °C group.

Figure 5 Change of mast cells activity in the colon (black arrows indicate mast cells, red arrows indicate mast cell degranulation). A: Normal control group; B: Model control group; C: Mox at 43 °C group; D: Mox at 46 °C group; E: EA at 1 mA group; F: EA at 3 mA group.

Figure 6 5-HT expression in the colon. ^bP < 0.01, vs the MC group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01, vs the NC group; ^eP < 0.01, vs the Mox at 46 °C group.

Figure 7 5-hydroxytryptamine expression in the colon (white arrows indicate positive expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine). A: Normal control group; B: Model control group; C: Mox at 43 °C group; D: Mox at 46 °C group; E: EA at 1 mA group; F: EA at 3 mA group.

Figure 8 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor expression in the colon. ^bP < 0.01, vs the MC group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01, vs the NC group; ^eP < 0.05, ^fP < 0.01, vs the Mox at 46 °C group.

Figure 9 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor expression in the colon (white arrows indicate positive expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 receptor). A: Normal control group; B: Model control group; C: Mox at 43 °C group; D: Mox at 46 °C group; E: EA at 1 mA group; F: EA at 3 mA group.

Figure 10 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor expression in the colon. ^bP < 0.01, vs the MC group; ^cP < 0.05, ^dP < 0.01, vs NC group.

Figure 11 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor expression in the colon (white arrows indicate positive expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine 4 receptor). A: Normal control group; B: Model control group; C: Mox at 43 °C group; D: Mox at 46 °C group; E: EA at 1 mA group; F: EA at 3 mA group.