Acupuncture attenuates repeated nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens and striatum of the rat.
Repeated injections of nicotine can produce behavioral sensitization, as evidenced by an enhanced locomotor response to a subsequent injection of the drug. Behavioral sensitization has been suggested as a model for studying drug addiction. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for treatment for many functional disorders, such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. We examined the effect of acupuncture on nicotine-induced behavioral locomotor activity and c-fos expression in the nucleus accumbens and striatum utilizing the immunocytochemical detection of the Fos protein. The rats were given repeated daily nicotine injections (0.4 mg/kg s.c., twice daily for 7 days) followed by one challenging injection on the 4th day after the last daily injection. Acupuncture at zusanli (ST36), but not control, significantly attenuated expected increase in nicotine-induced locomotor activity and Fos-like-immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumebns and striatum to subsequent nicotine challenge. These findings suggest that acupuncture has a therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction, possibly by modulating postsynaptic neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens and the striatum.
Chae
Younbyoung
Y
Department of Oriental Medical Science, Graduate School of East-West Medical Science, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seochon-ri, Kiheung-eup, Youngin-shi, Kyungki-do 449-701, South Korea.
Yang
Chae Ha
CH
Kwon
Young Kyu
YK
Kim
Mi Ryeo
MR
Pyun
Kwang-Ho
KH
Hahm
Dae-Hyun
DH
Lee
Hye-Jung
HJ
Shim
Insop
I
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D009538:Nicotine