title: Kappa-opioid receptors in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius mediate 100 hz electroacupuncture-induced sleep activities in rats.
abstract: Previous results demonstrated that 10 Hz electroacupuncture (EA) of Anmian acupoints in rats during the dark period enhances slow wave sleep (SWS), which involves the induction of cholinergic activity in the caudal nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and subsequent activation of opioidergic neurons and μ-receptors. Studies have shown that different kinds of endogenous opiate peptides and receptors may mediate the consequences of EA with different frequencies. Herein, we further elucidated that high-frequency (100 Hz)-EA of Anmian enhanced SWS during the dark period but exhibited no direct effect on rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. High-frequency EA-induced SWS enhancement was dose-dependently blocked by microinjection of naloxone or κ-receptor antagonist (nor-binaltorphimine) into the caudal NTS, but was affected neither by μ- (naloxonazine) nor δ-receptor antagonists (natatrindole), suggesting the role of NTS κ-receptors in the high-frequency EA-induced SWS enhancement. Current and previous results depict the opioid mechanisms of EA-induced sleep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiung-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Pei-Lu
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Han-Han
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yi-Fong
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Fang-Chia
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Chang