[Changes of cerebral beta-endorphin in rats treated with combination therapy of melatonin and electroacupuncture].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the strengthening of acupuncture analgesic mechanism on the level of beta-endorphin and proopimelanocortin mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus in rats following electroacupuncture (EA) combined with melatonin (MEL).


METHODS
Integrated optical density (IOD) was measured by ABC immuno-histochemical and in situ hybridization technique with computerized image processing. The rat's brain was coronally sectioned after combination of EA and MEL.


RESULTS
IOD of beta-endorphin-like immunopositive substance in rat's brain was lowered significantly, which was measured after MEL (60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally and followed by EA 30 min later for 30 min, and the IOD of cerebral POMC mRNA positive substance increased significantly 10 hrs later.


CONCLUSIONS
The mechanism of MEL in enhancing EA analgesic effect might be related with the release and synthesis of beta-endorphin.
Zhou
M M
MM
Department of Neurobiology, Insitute of Acupuncture Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Medical Center of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032.
Yu
C X
CX
Wang
M Z
MZ
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin; D008550:Melatonin