The tegmental-accumbal dopaminergic system mediates the anxiolytic effect of acupuncture during ethanol withdrawal.
This study investigated the involvement of the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system in the anxiolytic effects of acupuncture during ethanol withdrawal (EW). Rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3g/kg/day of ethanol for 28 days and experienced 3 days of withdrawal. During EW, the rats were bilaterally treated with acupuncture at acupoints HT7 (Shenmen) or PC6 (Neiguan) or at a non-acupoint (tail) once daily for 1min over 3 days. High-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) analysis showed that EW significantly decreased both DA and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels in the nucleus accumbens shell (NaccSh); however, these processes were inhibited by acupuncture at HT7 but not at PC6. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot assays also revealed that acupuncture at HT7 prevented the EW-induced reductions in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and tyrosine hydroxylase protein expression in the NaccSh. A prior intra-NaccSh infusion of a cocktail of the selective DA1 receptor antagonist SCH23390 and the selective DA2 receptor antagonist eticlopride blocked the anxiolytic effect of acupuncture at HT7 in elevated plus maze tests. In addition, acupuncture at HT7 suppressed EW-induced increased BDNF levels in the VTA. These findings suggest that acupuncture at HT7 improves the VTA-Nacc DAergic function via inhibition of BDNF expression in the VTA, thereby exerting anxiolytic effects during EW.
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
ZhengLin
Z
Zhao
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Sang Chan
SC
Kim
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China; College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea. Electronic address: zhao_rongjie@yahoo.com.
RongJie
R
Zhao
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
YiYan
Y
Wu
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
Jie
J
Zhang
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
HongFeng
H
Liu
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Young Woo
YW
Kim
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
XiaoDong
X
Zhu
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China.
ChangHong
C
Gu
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Chul Won
CW
Lee
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Bong Hyo
BH
Lee
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Eun Young
EY
Jang
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Hae Li
HL
Ko
College of Oriental Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu 706-060, South Korea.
Chae Ha
CH
Yang
D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009714:Nucleus Accumbens / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D000431:Ethanol; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D004298:Dopamine
Acupuncture; BDNF; Dopamine; Ethanol withdrawal; Tyrosine hydroxylase