EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ON NEUROTRANSMITTERS IN SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS CENTERS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Using hitochemical techniques showing cholinesterase and catecholamines,weinvestigated the changes of these neurotransmitters in the sympathetic nervous centers(posterior nucleus and lateral area of hypothalamus,as well as intermediolateralnucleus of spinal cord)of acupunctured rats,and compared with those in the cor-responding nuclei and area in normal controls.A total of 109 cases were performed,among which 73 cases were of acupunctured and 36 cases were of controls.Theresults obtained were as follows(1)It was shown that the number of cases withstronger activity of acetylcholinesterase in sympathetic nervous centers of acupunc-tured group was higher than that of controls.The more obviously elevated in painthreshold after acupuncture,the higher number of cases with stronger ACHE enzy-matic activity in the sympathetic nervous centers was evident.(2)The number ofcases with stronger intensity of NA fluorescences within the adrenergic fiber's terminalsof sympathetic nervous centers was found to be higher in acupunctured group thanthat of control group.On the basis of the results obtained,the possible relationship between the effectsof acupuncture and the changes of neurotransmitters in sympathetic nervous centerswas discussed.We considered that the sympathetic nervous centers might have beeninduced into a relative inhibition state following acupuncture,and this state is ingood coincidence with the increase of NA in adrenergic fiber's terminals.