Relationship between electroacupuncture analgesia and dopamine receptors in nucleus accumbens.
OBJECTIVE
To study the roles of dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors in nucleus accumbens in electroacupuncture analgesia (EAA) and the potentiation of EAA of rats induced by l-tetrahydropalmatine (l-THP), a dopamine receptor antagonist.


METHODS
SK&F-38393 and quinpirole hydrochloride (Qui), highly selective agonists of D1 and D2 receptors, respectively were injected into nucleus accumbens of rats.


RESULTS
SK&F-38393 (5 and 10 micrograms) attenuated the potentiation of EAA induced by l-THP, 10 micrograms SKF38393 attenuated EAA as well, while Qui (10 and 20 micrograms) had no effect on EAA and the potentiation of EAA induced by l-THP.


CONCLUSIONS
D1 but not D2 receptor in nucleus accumbens play an important role in EAA and the potentiation of EAA induced by l-THP.
D015647:2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D001600:Berberine Alkaloids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000502:physiology*; D019257:Quinpirole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000502:physiology*