Endorphin release: a possible mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.
The action of acupuncture stimulation on analgesia has been investigated. The brain and serum extracts of acupunctured rabbits injected into rabbits produced a marked analgesic effect on the recipient, as shown by a great increase of their pain threshold. This effect is counteracted by a specific opiate anatagonist, naloxone. The data suggest that the release of the endogenous substances with morphine-like biological properties, endorphins, is increased by acupuncture stimulation, thus inhibiting pain perception.
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D004723:Endorphins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010146:Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011817:Rabbits; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects
D004723:Endorphins; D009270:Naloxone