[Tachycardia ameliorated by electroacupuncture in morphine withdrawal rats].
OBJECTIVE
To establish morphine withdrawal tachycardia model of rat and to observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) with different frequency on its heart rate.


METHODS
Morphine dependence was induced in Wistar rats by injection of morphine for 8 days successively, and EA 1 mA in strength was given after withdrawal of morphine with different frequencies of 2 Hz, 15 Hz and 100 Hz, the heart rate and blood pressure were recorded in the awaked rats.


RESULTS
Morphine abstinent rats showed a 24% increase of heart rate as compared with that of the normal control group, but no significant change was observed in blood pressure. The 100 Hz and 15 Hz EA produced a 13.4% and 13.1% decrease of heart rate respectively, whereas 2 Hz EA produced insignificant change.


CONCLUSIONS
The reducing effect of percutaneous electric stimulation on tachycardia in heroin addicts revealed clinically can be replicated in the rat model.
Yu
Y
Y
Neuroscience Research Institute, Beijing Medical University, Beijing (100083).
Cui
C
C
Yu
J
J
D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000628:therapy; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy
D009020:Morphine