| Objective：To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture combined with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) decoction on pain behavior, osteoclast differentiation, and Hedgehog signaling pathway in rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: A total of 50 rats were randomly divided into normal group, model group, electroacupuncture group, TCM group, and combination group (n=10 each). The RA animal model was established in all groups except the normal group. After modeling, the electroacupuncture group received needle-stimulation treatment, the TCM group was administered 1 mL of 12.24 g/kg TCM decoction solution by gavage, and the combination group received both treatments. Other groups were gavaged with an equivalent volume of normal saline every day for 14 days. The paw withdrawal thermal latency (PWTL) was measured using a thermal pain tester to evaluate pain behavior. The motor score was observed to evaluate the movement of each group. Ankle joint pathology was observed by H&E staining. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining was used to detect osteoclast differentiation, and Western blotting was used to detect the expression of Sonic hedgehog (Shh), Patched-1 (Ptch-1), and gli-oma-related oncogene homology-1 (Gli-1) proteins in the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Results: After the last treatment, compared with the normal group, the PWTL and motor score in the model group were decreased, and the osteoclast differentiation number, and expression of Shh, Gli1, and Ptch1 proteins were increased (P<0.05). Compared with the model group, the PWTL and motor score in the electroacupuncture and TCM groups were increased, while the osteoclast differentiation number, and expression of Shh, Gli1, and Ptch1 proteins were decreased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the electroacupuncture group and the TCM group. Compared with the electroacupuncture and TCM groups, the PWTL and motor score in the combination group were increased, while the osteoclast differentiation number, and the expression of Shh, Gli1, and Ptch1 proteins were decreased (P<0.05). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture combined with TCM decoction can significantly reduce pain and enhance movement ability in rats with RA while decreasing osteoclast differentiation. The regulatory mechanism may be related to the Hedgehog signaling pathway. |
