To observe the effect of acupuncture on the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in the trigeminal spinal nucleus (TNC) of rats with migraine, so as to explore its mechanisms underlying amelioration of migraine.A total of 44 SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, acu-puncture, and sham acupuncture groups (n=11 in each group). Acupuncture was applied to bilateral "Shuaigu"(GB8) and "Yanglingquan"(GB34) or non-acupoint Ⅰ (the spot about 10 mm superior to the iliac spine and 20 mm lateral to the post-median line) and non-acupoint Ⅱ (behind the iliac spine, the ending-spot of the posterior superior iliac spine at the muscles) on both sides for 20 min, once daily for 9 days. Paw withdrawal latency (mechanical pain threshold,PWMT) and thermal tail flick latency (TFL) were measured using a VonFrey detector and photothermal tail pain meter, respectively. The content of IFN-γ of TNC tissue was detected by ELISA. The expression levels of Cx43 and IFN-γ proteins of TNC tissue were detected by Western blot. The immunofluorescence dual labeling method was used to detect the positive expression of GFAP and Cx43, IFN-γR and NeuN in TNC tissue, for displaying the activity of Cx43 in astrocytes and IFN-γ in neurons, respectively.Compared with the control group, both PWMT and TFL at 3, 5, 7 and 9 days after modeling were significantly decreased (P<0.01), while the expression of Cx43 and IFN-γ proteins, the immunofluorescence intensity of GFAP, Cx43, IFN-γR, and the content of IFN-γ were considerably up-regulated in the model group (P<0.01). In comparison with the model group, both PWMT and TFL at 3, 5, 7 and 9 days after modeling were obviously increased (P<0.01), whereas the expression of Cx43 and IFN-γ proteins, the immunofluorescence intensity of GFAP, Cx43, IFN-γR, and the content of IFN-γ in the acupuncture group, as well as the protein expression of IFN-γR in the sham acupuncture group were also remarkably decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). The effect of acupuncture was significantly superior to that of sham acupuncture in down-regulating the expression of Cx43 and IFN-γ proteins, and the immunofluorescence intensity of GFAP, Cx43, and IFN-γR (P<0.05, P<0.01). Immunofluorescence dual labeling outcomes showed that in the model group, a large number of GFAP and Cx43 co-expressed astrocytes were found, and the cell body and protrusion of GFAP-labelled astrocytes were evidently increased, and Cx43 was mainly expressed on the surface of astrocyte membrane and the protrusion site, and the proportion of IFN-γR and NeuN co-expressing neurons in the model group was significantly increased, suggesting an activation of astrocytes and neurons after modeling. Whereas in the acupuncture group, the bright green clustered particles on the cell membrane and protrusion of astrocytes, and the proportion of IFN-γR and NeuN co-expressing neurons were significantly reduced, suggesting a suppression of activities of Cx43, astrocytes and neurons and IFN-γ release from TNC after acupuncture intervention.Acupuncture can relieve the pain response in rats with migraine, which may be associa-ted with its functions in inhibiting the expression of Cx43 and activation of astrocytes and neurons, and reducing release of pro-inflammatory factor IFN-γ in TNC.目的：观察针刺对偏头痛大鼠三叉神经脊束核(TNC)中星形胶质细胞缝隙连接蛋白43(Cx43)、胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、干扰素-γ(IFN-γ)表达水平的影响，探讨针刺治疗偏头痛的可能机制。方法：SD大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、针刺组、假针刺组，每组11只。采用硝酸甘油颈背皮下注射法(10 mg/kg)制备偏头痛大鼠模型。针刺组针刺双侧“率谷”“阳陵泉”，假针刺组针刺双侧非穴点Ⅰ、非穴点Ⅱ，20 min/次，1次/d，连续9 d。检测大鼠足底机械痛阈值(PWMT)、甩尾潜伏期(TFL)观察疼痛反应；ELISA法检测大鼠TNC中IFN-γ的含量；Western blot法检测大鼠TNC中Cx43和IFN-γ蛋白的表达量；免疫荧光双标法检测大鼠TNC中GFAP、Cx43的共表达情况及神经元核抗原(NeuN)、IFN-γ受体R(IFN-γR)的共表达情况。结果：造模后第3、5、7、9天，与空白组比较，模型组PWMT、TFL明显降低(P<0.01)；与模型组和假针刺组比较，针刺组PWMT、TFL明显升高(P<0.01)。与空白组比较，模型组TNC中Cx43蛋白表达水平升高(P<0.01)，GFAP与Cx43共表达明显增强(P<0.01)，IFN-γ含量和蛋白表达量明显升高(P<0.01)，NeuN与IFN-γR共表达明显增强(P<0.01)；与模型组和假针刺组比较，针刺组TNC中Cx43蛋白表达水平降低（P<0.01），GFAP与Cx43共表达明显减少(P<0.01)，除与假针刺组IFN-γ含量比较外，IFN-γ含量和蛋白表达量明显降低(P<0.05,P<0.01)，NeuN与IFN-γR共表达明显减少(P<0.01，P<0.05)。结论：针刺能改善偏头痛疼痛反应，其机制可能是通过抑制TNC中星形胶质细胞Cx43活化，减少促炎因子IFN-γ，发挥抗炎镇痛作用。.