β-Endorphin- and GABA-mediated depressor effect of specific electroacupuncture surpasses pressor response of emotional circuit

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) N.Y. : 1980), 2001-09, Vol.22 (9), p.1465-1470
• Main Authors: Ku, Yun-Hui, Chang, Yan-Zhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Acupuncture Points; Amygdala - cytology; Amygdala - drug effects; Amygdala - physiology; Animals; b-Endorphin; beta-Endorphin - pharmacology; Bicuculline - pharmacology; Blood pressure; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Blood Pressure - physiology; Central nervous system; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Electric Stimulation; Electroacupuncture - methods; Emotion; Emotions - drug effects; Emotions - physiology; GABA; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - pharmacology; Glutamic Acid - pharmacology; Male; Microinjections; Olivary Nucleus - cytology; Olivary Nucleus - drug effects; Olivary Nucleus - physiology; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - cytology; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - drug effects; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus - physiology; Pressoreceptors - physiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Solitary Nucleus - cytology; Solitary Nucleus - drug effects; Solitary Nucleus - physiology; Stress; β-Endorphin
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/S0196-9781(01)00467-3

It has been proved that input of specific electroacupuncture (EA) can activate β-endorphin(β-EP)ergic and noradrenergic neurons projecting to the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL), the latter acting upon the RVL-GABAergic interneurons, thereby produce depressor effect. The present study further shows that: (1) The EA depressor effect is strong enough to surpass the pressor response of the AC (nucleus amygdaloideus centralis)-emotional circuit, (2) both β-endorphin (β-EP) and GABA in the RVL mediate the EA antagonistic effect, (3) the EA effect does not take place in the AC and paraventricular nucleus (two key nuclei besides the RVL, which also have β-EPergic input) in the emotional circuit.