Zhu S, Shi F, Liu Z, Jiang J
Suzhou Medical College.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1990;15(4):269-73.
The role played by central 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in electro-acupuncture analgesia has been studied in rats by means of autoradiography with isotopic tracers 3H-5-HT. The purpose of the present study is to determine the localization of 3H-5-HT in the midbrain raphe nuclei and in the mesencephalon aqueduct as well as periaqueductal gray matter. Parallel experiments were studied by freezing microautoradiographic method and histo-fixative microautoradiographic method. The analgesia effect of acupuncture can be enhanced or lowered by the increment or the decrement of the 5-HT level in the midbrain raphe nuclei and in the mesencephalon aqueduct as well as periaqueductal gray matter. The results of the present experiments show that, when the rats were subjected to electro-acupuncture analgesia. The microautoradiographic intensities of 3H-5-HT both in the midbrain raphe nuclei and in the areas of mesencephalon aqueduct were significantly increased. It may be observed that the release of 5-HT in these regions of the brain is accelerated during acupuncture analgesia. From this it can be concluded that the midbrain raphe nuclei and the mesencephalon aqueduct as well as the periaqueductal gray matter are closely related to acupuncture analgesia. The results imply that 5-HT in these areas may be one of the most important neurochemical agents mediating acupuncture analgesia.
利用同位素示踪剂3H - 5 - 羟色胺（5 - HT）的放射自显影技术，在大鼠身上研究了中枢5 - 羟色胺在电针镇痛中的作用。本研究的目的是确定3H - 5 - HT在中脑缝核、中脑导水管以及导水管周围灰质中的定位。通过冷冻显微放射自显影法和组织固定显微放射自显影法进行了平行实验。针刺镇痛效果可因中脑缝核、中脑导水管以及导水管周围灰质中5 - HT水平的升高或降低而增强或减弱。本实验结果表明，当对大鼠进行电针镇痛时，中脑缝核和中脑导水管区域的3H - 5 - HT显微放射自显影强度显著增加。可以观察到，针刺镇痛期间大脑这些区域的5 - HT释放加速。由此可以得出结论，中脑缝核、中脑导水管以及导水管周围灰质与针刺镇痛密切相关。结果表明，这些区域的5 - HT可能是介导针刺镇痛的最重要神经化学物质之一。
