Effect of hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus on acupuncture analgesia in the rat.
Hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus (SON) has been demonstrated to involve in pain modulation. Acupuncture analgesia is a very useful clinical skill for pain relief, which has over 2500-year history in China. The present study investigated the effect of SON on acupuncture analgesia in the rat. Electrical stimulation of the SON or microinjection of a small dose L-glutamate sodium into the SON enhanced acupuncture analgesia in a dose-dependent manner, while cauterization of the SON weakened acupuncture analgesia. Pituitary removal did not influence the effect of L-glutamate sodium that enhanced acupuncture analgesia in the SON. The data suggested that the neurons and not the nerve fibers in the SON played an important role in acupuncture analgesia, which effect might be through the central nervous system rather than the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system.
Yang
Jun
J
Institute for Pharmaceuticals and Medical Science, Guangdong Bangmin Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Jianhai Distract, Jianmen, Guangdong, China. yj6676@yahoo.com
Yang
Yu
Y
Chen
Jian-Min
JM
Liu
Wen-Yan
WY
Lin
Bao-Chen
BC
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000379:methods; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013495:Supraoptic Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000293:injuries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects
D018698:Glutamic Acid