Effect of acupuncture on anxiety mood and the expression of β-EP in peraqueductal grey of herion withdrawal rats / 中华行为医学与脑科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the effect of Electroacupuncture on anxiety mood and periaqueductal grey (PAG) β-endorphine expression in rats with morphine abstinence syndrome.Methods The model of heroin-addicted rat was firmly established by the subcutaneous injection of gradually-increased dosages of heroin. Rats were randomly divided into control group, herion-addict group, withdrawal group, electroacupuncture group.Anxiety mood of experimental rats were assessed by Elevated Plus Maze test. Expression of β-EP in PAG was detected by immunohistochemstry. The effect of electroacupuncture at bilateral zusanli and sanyinjiao on anxiety mood and expression of β-EP in PAG was observed in rats with herion abstinence symptom.Results The anxiety index in rats with herion abstinence symptomthe value of OT％,OE％and head-dips times was (12.5±4.3) ％, (17.1±6.7)％and (5.7±2.0) times respectively,lower than that in control group [ (26.8±8.7) ％,(32.4±6.0) ％ and (12.2±4.0) times respectively],there existed significant difference(The value of P was 0.003,0.018 and 0.003 respectively).Meanwhile,The expression of β-EP-positive neurons(206.1±23.1)was significantly higher than the control(186.2±15.3). There existed significant difference( P =0.041).Electroacupuncture could increase OT％,OE％,head-dips times[(26.5±8.7)％、(31.8±7.7)％ and (9.9±3.1) times respectively] in rats with herion abstinence symptom,which comparied with control group were not statistically distinctive(The value of P was 0.920,0.816 and 0.122 respectively).The expression of β-EP(185.3±11.4)in PAG increased, which comparied with control group(186.2±15.3)were not statistically distinctive( P =0.891).Conclusion Electroacupuncture could inhibit the abstinence syndrome effectively.And there is obvious promotion of β-EP expression in PAG. This is probably one of underlying mechanisms for electroacupuncture improving withdrawal symptoms.