title: The role of central 5-hydroxytryptamine in acupuncture analgesia.
abstract: The role played by central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in acupuncture analgesia (AA) has been studied in rats with the tail-flick response as the antinociceptive test. The analgesic effect of acupuncture can be enhanced or lowered by the increment or the decrement of the 5-HT level in the CNS. Furthermore, the turnover rate of 5-HT in the CNS has been found to be greatly facilitated during the period of acupuncture. The results imply that 5-HT in the CNS may be one of the most important neurochemical agents mediating AA.
mesh_terms: D015115:5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004056:Differential Threshold; D005260:Female; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D009020:Morphine; D014364:Tryptophan; D006916:5-Hydroxytryptophan; D015115:5,6-Dihydroxytryptamine