Issue Archive

Inhibitory effect of electric needling on the defence reaction produced by hypothalamic stimulation in awake rabbits

Sun Xiangping, Yao Tai

Department of Physiology, Shanghai First Medical College. Shanghai, China

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of the dorsomedial region,of the hypothalamus in awake Tabbits elicited a charateristic pressor response, bradycardia, alterations in renal sympathetic nerve activity and other autonomic and behavioural changes which were similar to the performances of the defence reaction in the cat. These responses were shown to be inhibited during and after a 20-min-period of low frequency electrical stimulation of the “Zusanli” acupoint. The inhibitory effect of electroacupuncture could be reversed as well as prevented by intravenous injection of naloxone (0.4 mg/kg). Electrolytic lesions of the basomedial hypothalamus including the arcuate nucleus abolished the inhibitory effect of electroacupuncture. Microinjection of sodium glutamate (50 mM in 1 #mu#l of saline) into the local area of the arcuate nucleus also resulted in a naloxone-reversible inhibition of the defence Teaction. The results obtained indicate that electroacupuncture inhibits the pressor response and other components of the defence reaction produced by hypothalamic stimulation. This effect of electroacupuncture is possibly mediated by activation of the endorphin-containing neurones in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus.

Key words: Electroacupuncture;Hypothalamic stimulation;;;;

Received: 　　Accepted:

Corresponding author: 　　E-mail:

Citing This Article：

Sun Xiangping, Yao Tai. Inhibitory effect of electric needling on the defence reaction produced by hypothalamic stimulation in awake rabbits. Acta Physiol Sin 1985; 37 (1): (in Chinese with English abstract).