EFFECT OF ACUPUNCTURE ANALGESIA ON THE RAT'S FIBROUS ZONE OF MEDIAN EMINENCE OBSERVED WITH ELECTRON MICROSCOPE / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Effective analgesia was induced by electro-acupuncture stimulating the "Zusanli"(足三里) point in the rats. The animal were sacrificed and as soon as possible and the median eminence were taken out from the brian. The specimens were fixed in glutaraldehyde, then were prepared for electron microscope observation.Twelve male adult rats were divided into control and experimental groups. There were many terminal enlargements in the fibrous zone of rat's median eminence. Different types of vesicles were found in the terminal buttons, they were round clear and flattened clear vesicles, and large or small vesicles with a dense core. There were also mixed forms, and irregular vesicles in the same button. Synapses may be axo-dendrits, axo-axon or axe-somatic synaptic types.The neurous in the fibrious zone could be classified into "light" and "dark" cells. The light cells might be the neurosecretory neurons. The neuroglia cells were oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.In acupuncture analgesia experimental group the terminal enlargment contained less number of round clear vesicles than that of the control group, and sometime they were empty. This may indicate the discharge of acetylcholine, to increase the secretion of the neurosecretory substance and enkephalin. But the flattened clear vesicles had no change in the terminal button. The neurons and neroglia also exhibited some morphological changes which may indicate the cells were in active functional state.