title: Electroacupuncture analgesia blocked by microinjection of anti-beta-endorphin antiserum into periaqueductal gray of the rabbit.
abstract: The possible role of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in mediating the analgesic effect elicited by electroacupuncture (EA) was assessed by injecting antiserum against beta-EP into the periaqueductal gray (PAG) of the rabbit. Two antisera (HO and UA) were raised in rabbits against human beta-EP, each of which recognized human, porcine, bovine, ovine, camel and rat beta-EP, the only difference being that HO recognized rabbit beta-EP while UA did not. The effect of EA analgesia was found to be seriously attenuated by injecting HO into PAG of the rabbit, while UA was ineffective. The results indicated a PAG pool of beta-EP as an important component in mediating EA analgesia.
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D004723:Endorphins / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D009270:Naloxone / Q000494:pharmacology; D010487:Periaqueductal Gray; D011817:Rabbits; D001615:beta-Endorphin
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D007106:Immune Sera; D009270:Naloxone; D001615:beta-Endorphin