Hypothalamic Norepinephrine Mediates Acupunctural Effects on Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis During Ethanol Withdrawal

• Published in: Journal of acupuncture and meridian studies 2016-02, Vol.9 (1), p.4-10
• Main Authors: Zhao, Zheng Lin, Kim, Sang Chan, Zhang, Jie, Liu, Hong Feng, Lee, Bong Hyo, Jang, Eun Young, Lee, Chul Won, Cho, Il Je, An, Won G., Yang, Chae Ha, Kim, Young Woo, Zhao, Rong Jie, Wu, Yi Yan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acupuncture; Acupuncture Therapy; Animals; corticosterone; ethanol; Ethanol - adverse effects; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - drug effects; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System - physiology; hypothalamus; Male; norepinephrine; Norepinephrine - pharmacology; Pituitary-Adrenal System - drug effects; Pituitary-Adrenal System - physiology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - physiopathology; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome - therapy; tyrosine hydroxylase
• ISSN: 2005-2901; 2093-8152
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jams.2015.05.007

A previous study demonstrated that acupuncture at ST36 (Zu-San-Li) attenuates ethanol withdrawal (EW)-induced hyperactivation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in rats. The current study investigated the involvement of hypothalamic norepinephrine (NE) in that process. Rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3 g/kg/d of ethanol or saline for 28 days. After 24 hours of EW, acupuncture was applied to rats at bilateral ST36 points or at nonacupoints (tail) for 1 minute. A high-performance liquid chromatography analysis showed that EW significantly increased both the NE and the 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) levels in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Western blot analysis also revealed that EW markedly elevated the phosphorylation rates of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), but spared TH protein expression in the PVN. However, acupuncture at ST36, but not at nonacupoints, greatly inhibited the increase in the hypothalamic NE, MHPG, and phosphorylation rates of TH. Additionally, postacupuncture infusion of NE into the PVN significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of acupuncture at ST36 on the oversecretion of plasma corticosterone during EW. These results suggest that acupuncture at ST36 inhibits EW-induced hyperactivation of the hypothalamic NEergic system to produce therapeutic effects on the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis.