Acupuncture Suppresses Morphine Craving in Progressive Ratio Through the GABA System.
Previous studies revealed that acupuncture suppressed both morphine self-administration and morphine-seeking behavior after abstinence. Based on these results, this study examined whether acupuncture attenuated morphine-craving under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule and investigated the possible neuronal mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer morphine (0.5 mg/kg) at a fixed ratio for 9 days, and rats who achieved stable infusion were switched to a PR schedule. When animals had taken no more morphine for 1 hour, the number of infusions was defined as the break point (BP). After PR training, animals that had established a stable BP received acupuncture the next day. Acupuncture was applied for 1 minute immediately before the test session. Bicuculline (1.0 mg/kg) and SCH 50911 (2.0 mg/kg) were given 30 minutes prior to acupuncture. The c-Fos levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were examined. Acupuncture at SI5 reduced the BP significantly. Moreover, the effects of acupuncture were blocked by either bicuculline or SCH 50911. Immunofluorescence revealed that acupuncture at SI5 decreased c-Fos expressions in the VTA and the NAc. This study demonstrates that acupuncture at SI5 is effective for the treatment of morphine-craving and that this effect is mediated via the GABA pathway.
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: dlqhdgy@dhu.ac.kr.
Bong Hyo
BH
Lee
Department of Pharmacology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China. Electronic address: zhao_rongjie@yahoo.com.
Rong Jie
RJ
Zhao
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Byung Gwon
BG
Lee
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Nam Jun
NJ
Kim
Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Chae Ha
CH
Yang
Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Hee Young
HY
Kim
Department of Physiology, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Young S
YS
Gwak
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Sung Chul
SC
Lim
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Jae Su
JS
Kim
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Yun Kyu
YK
Lee
Department of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Acupoint, College of Korean Medicine, Daegu Haany University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Hyun Jong
HJ
Lee
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D066249:Craving; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009021:Morphine Dependence / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D009020:Morphine
GABA; SI5; acupuncture; morphine; progressive ratio; self-administration