title: Acupuncture-like stimulation induces a heterosegmental release of Met-enkephalin-like material in the rat spinal cord.
abstract: In order to investigate the effects induced by acupuncture on the activity of enkephalinergic neurons in the spinal cord, either the lumbar or the cervico-trigeminal area was perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (0.1 ml/min) in halothane-anaesthetized rats, and Met-enkephalin-like material (MELM) was measured in 0.5 ml fractions of the perfusates. The effects of manual acupuncture performed by a traditional Chinese acupuncturist at the 'Zusanli' point on the right hind limb were compared to the effects induced by acupuncture applied at a non-acupoint next to 'Zusanli.' The manipulation of needles either at the 'Zusanli' point or at the non-acupoint had no effect on the release of MELM from the lumbar area but significantly increased the release from the cervico-trigeminal zone. It is concluded that manual acupuncture triggers a heterosegmental activation of enkephalinergic neurones within the spinal cord and that this effect is non-specific in terms of the location of the stimulated point.
authors.affiliation: INSERM (U. 161), 75014 ParisFrance INSERM (U. 288), 75634 Paris Cédex 13 France.
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bing
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cesselin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bourgoin
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Clot
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hamon
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Le Bars
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D004569:Electroencephalography; D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism*; D014276:Trigeminal Nerve / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004744:Enkephalin, Methionine