[Effect of electroacupuncture on the discharges of pain-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus of rats].
The discharges of pain-sensitive neurons of the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus (DMH) in Sprague-Dawley rats were recorded with glass microelectrodes, After electroacupuncture acupoints "Zusanli" and "Sanyinjiao", the rate of spontaneous discharges and the rate and duration of the pain-evoked discharges of pain-excitatory units of DMH were profoundly decreased, and the spontaneous firing rate of pain-inhibitory units was increased while their inhibitory response to nociceptive stimulation was released by the electroacupuncture. The results mentioned above suggest that DMH participates in the activity of acupuncture analgesia.
Huang
Z
Z
Department of physiology, First Medical College of PLA, Guangzhou.
Tong
Z
Z
Sun
W
W
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D004302:Dorsomedial Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000502:physiology*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004594:Electrophysiology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley