Manual acupuncture and its central mechanisms: involvement of propriosinal and descending pain inhibitory system / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

Manual acupuncture to ST 36 Zusanli induces both long-lasting and short-term inhibitory effects on C-evoked discharges of wide dynamic range (WDR) neurons in the lumbar cord. The possible involvement of the central nervous system in producing these two types of inhibitions was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. In one expriment, the existence of a descending pain inhibitory system was studied using spinal conduction blocks at the cervical level. In a separate experiment, naloxone was administered systemically to investigate the participation of endogenous opioids.<br>Long-lasting inhibition was found to be due to a descending pain inhibitory system from the upper central nervous system together with the involvement of an opioidergic link. On the other hand, short-term inhibition was attributed to a propriospinal pain inhibitory system and endogenous opioids were not implicated.