Objective To observe the effect of liver-soothing and mental-activity-regulating(LSMAR)needling on behavior reactions and contents of serum calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)

substance P(SP)

interleukin-1β(IL-1β )and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in migraine rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying relief of migraine.Methods Thirtytwo male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control

model

LSMAR needling and conventional needling groups(n=8 rats in each).The migraine model was established by hypodermic injection of glyceryl trinitrate(5 mg/kg)at the napex.Acupuncture preconditioning was conducted once daily for 8 days before modeling.Acupuncture needles were inserted into"Baihui"(GV 20)

and bilateral"Fengchi"(GB 20)

"Neiguan"(PC 6)and "Taichong"(LR 3)

manipulated for a while and retained for 30 min.The rats' behavioral changes(times of head scratching

tail-biting

cage-crawling

and to-and fro-movement in 30 min)were scored(one symptom = one point)before modeling

after modeling

and after intervention.The concentrations of CGRP

SP

IL-1β

TNF-αin serum were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results After modeling

the behavioral scores were significantly increased in the migraine model rats relevant to the control group(P<0.05).Whereas after the treatment

the behavior scores were considerably decreased during 60-90 min and 120-150 min of the measuring period in both LSMAR and conventional needling groups compared with the model group(P<0.05).The concentrations of CGRP

SP

IL-1β and TNF-αwere significantly higher in the model group than in the control group(P<0.05)

and notably lower in both LSMAR and conventional needling groups than in the model group(P<0.05).The therapeutic effect of LSMAR was markedly superior to that of conventional needling in down-regulating the concentrations of CGRP

SP

IL-1β and TNF-α(P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture preconditioning can effectively relieve pain in migraine rats possibly by decreasing the concentrations of CGRP

SP

IL-1β and TNF-αin the peripheral blood

and the therapeutic effect of LSMAR is evidently superior to that of conventional needling.