title: Relationship between electroacupuncture analgesia and dopamine receptors in nucleus accumbens.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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*