STUDY ON THE ACUPUNCTURE EFFECTS UPON THE OPIOID LIKE PEPTIDE IMMUNOHIS-TOCHEMICAL REACTIVITY IN GUINEA PIGS' CIRCULATING LYMPHOCYTES / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

The met-enkephalin (MEK), leu-enkephalin (LEK) and ?-endorphin (?-EP) immunoreactivities were detected in the circulating lymphocytes of 64 guinea pigs by PAP immunohistochemical method under the conditions of electroacupuncture, naloxone or exogenous opioid like peptides (OLP). Subsequently the ?-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE)was demonstrated on partial immunostained lymphocyte samples. The results showed that the OLP immunoreactivity with different intensity was found in approximate 96％ of the lymphocytes. There was a positive correlation between the ANAE-focal pattern lymphocytes and MEK-IIRL (intense immunoreactivity lymphocytes)or ?-EP-IIRL; whereas there was no significant correlation between the ANAE-focal pattern lymphocytes and LEK-IIRL. The MEK-IIRL, LEK-IIRL and ?-EP-IIRL were all increased markedly in the guinea pigs which underwent electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" points. There was no significant difference in MEK-IIRL, LEK-IIRL and ?-EP-IIRL, when the acupuncture group, naloxone group and control group were compared with each other. However, the LEK-IIRL, MEK-IIRL and ?-EP-IIRL could be depressed by naloxone, when the lymphocytes were preincubated with 10~(-7)mol/L of MEK, LEK or ?-EP in vitro. Hence, the naloxone group had a significant difference in MEK-IIRL, LEK-IIRL or ?-EP-IIRL when compared with the acupuncture group. A high peak of the lymphocyte MEK-IR among the range of 10~(-10)—10~(-8)mol/L of MEK preincubation in the acupuncture group when compared with the control group. It suggests that electroacupuncture may enhance activity of the unbound MEK receptor.