Electroacupuncture alleviates pain in rats with Cervical Spondylotic Radiculopathy by promoting M2 polarization of spinal macrophages through suppression of Piezo1 protein expression

EA improved motor behavior and thermal pain thresholds in CSR rats. It suppressed the expression of Piezo1 in the spinal cord, as well as the levels of CD86, iNOS, IL-6, NF-κB, and p-NF-κB, while promoting the expression of CD206, Arg1, TGF-β, and IL-10. These effects were reversed by treatment with Yoda1, suggesting that electroacupuncture alleviates neuropathic pain in CSR rats by downregulating Piezo1 expression and promoting macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype.