Fig. 1

EA produces analgesia and negative emotion-relieving effects in mice with inflammatory and neuropathic pain. A The schematic diagram of EA treatment of ipsilateral ST36 acupoints of the affected side in mice at an intensity of 0.5 mA/10 Hz; B Experimental design and timeline of the behavioral experiment. The panels A and B were generated with BioRender (https://biorender.com/). C Time course of changes in the tactile withdrawal thresholds based on von Frey tests in the CFA model. D Time course of changes in the thermal withdrawal latency based on hot plate test in CFA model. E Time course of changes in the tactile withdrawal thresholds based on von Frey tests in the CCI model. F Time course of changes in the thermal withdrawal latency based on hot plate test in CCI model. For C-F, *** p < 0.001 vs. Saline or Sham control group, ^# p < 0.05, ^## p < 0.01 and ^### p < 0.001 vs. CFA or CCI group, revealed by two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni’s post hoc test, n = 6 mice per group. G The schematic diagram of the experiment design for the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. H The representative tracking maps of CFA mice in the CPP before and after the EA condition. I The time spent in the EA condition chamber and CPP score of CFA-treated mice. J The schematic diagram of the experiment design for the conditioned place preference (CPP) test. K The representative tracking maps of CCI mice in the CPP before and after the EA condition. L The time spent in the EA condition chamber and CPP score of CCI-treated mice. For I and L, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01 vs. pre-EA condition, revealed by two-tailed paired t-test, n = 6 mice per group. All data are shown as mean ± SEM