The Afferent Connections Of NOS Positive Neurons Of The Dorsal Raphe Nucleueus (DR) In The Rat And The Effects Of Electroacupuncture On The Expression Of NOS Positive Neurons In DR

DR is one of the most collective part of serotonin(5-HT) in the nerve center. It takes part in the regulation of sleep and awakening, incretion,emotion,temperture,feeding and so on, and it plays an important role in pain and electroacupuncture(EA) analgesia. Data show that nitric oxide(NO) is another transmitter in nervous system.In the center it regulates harmful informations.There are collective NOS positive neuron bodies and fibers in DR. Where do they come from? Are there diurnal rhythm change during EA? What about the effects of different duration, time and frequency on the expression of NOS positive neurons in DR? There are no data, so we use nicotinamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) combing with horseradish peroxidase(HRP) retrograde tracing to evaluate the afferent connections of NOS positive neurons of DR. Results shows that there are NOS positive neurons in locus ceruleus, substantia nigro, septal nucleus and hippocampus projecting to DR. The methods of NADPH-d, counting and computer image manipulation technology are adopted to study the effects of different duration, time and frequency on the expression of NOS positive neurons in DR. Data shows that after low frequency(2HZ) EA on "Zusanli" point of one side for 5 min, 15min, 30min, 60min, there are no difference between control group and EA 5 min group, while the NOS positive neurons increases after EA 15 min. There are no obvious difference among EA 15min, 30min and 60min groups (P>0.05). After low (2HZ) and high (128HZ) frequency EA 30 min, the number of NOS positive neurons is increased than that of control group (P<0.05) ,and there ispositive correlation between number and frequency. After low frequency(2HZ) EA at different time(5:00,l 1:00,17:00,23:00) about 30 min, the expression NOS positive neurons in DR increase more obviously at 5:00, the rest groups are no obvious difference. Aim of the test is to research the roles and relationships of DR and NO during regulating pain and EA analgesia from the level of the cell and molecule , and to provide further morphological data for studing the functions of DR, understanding the physiological funtion of NO, and to provide some reference for clinical acupuncture.