Electroacupuncture decreases nitric oxide synthesis in the hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Acupuncture-related effects on autonomic function have been explored via biological and neurophysiologic studies. The hypothalamus, known to regulate the autonomic nervous system, is likely affected by acupuncture treatment that modulates sympathetic functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture at the Jogsamni point (ST36, an acupoint known to modulate autonomic function) on expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rat. Nitric oxide, which is produced by nNOS activity, plays an important role in the regulation of many physiologic processes, including sympathetic activities, in the hypothalamus and other parts of the brain. nNOS expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry of nNOS and histochemistry of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d). The staining intensities of nNOS-positive neurons and NADPH-d-positive neurons were quantitatively assessed using microdensitometry to measure changes in optical density. The results show that electroacupuncture at ST36 reduced the expression and activity of nNOS in the hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensitive rats. These findings suggest that the electroacupuncture at ST36 results in modulation of the activity of nNOS in the hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rat.
Department of Medical Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305-811, Republic of Korea.
Jong-In
JI
Kim
Yong-Suk
YS
Kim
Sung-Keel
SK
Kang
Changhwan
C
Kim
Chan
C
Park
Myeong Soo
MS
Lee
Youngbuhm
Y
Huh
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002452:Cell Count; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019044:Image Cytometry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase