| Objective:1. To study the specificity of acupoints in acupuncture activation of CRHrelated neuronal activities in the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus for selection of thespecific acupoints.2. To determine the dose-response relationship of acupuncture activationof the neurons with the special secretion of CRH related neuronal discharge from activation ofhypothalamic paraventricular nucleus induced by electrical stimulation of the renal nerves.3.To determine the neural signal transmission pathway activated by acupuncture and furtherexplore the regulatory and effector mechanisms of acupuncture activation of hypothalamicparaventricular nucleus involved in stress response neurons (i.e., CRH related neurons). Thisprovides a new guiding principle for selection of acupoints different from the traditionalconcept for clinical acupuncture adjustment of the balance of the internal environment andenhancement of the ability to adapt to external changes, and also improves clinical efficacy.Methods: Experimental adult male SD rats were used in this study. The experimentselected172adult male SD rats.The extracellular stress-related neuronal activities ofhypothalamic paraventricular nucleus were recorded by the neural electrophysiologicalmethod.1. The recorded neuronal electrical activation was identified in the target neurons. Theneurons with enhanced thermal stimulation, suppression of intravenous hydrocortisone, mildsuppression of testosterone and unresponsive to estrogen were identified as the target neuronsin the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.2. Considering the increased discharge of20%in the recorded target neurons byelectrical stimulation of the renal nerves as an indicator, the activation effect and intensitydifference of33acupoints at different sites on43target neurons involved in the stressresponse in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus were observed for selection of thespecifically related acupoints, and the correlation of specifically related acupoints with thedomination of their meridians and spinal segments.3. The specific acupuncture-related acupoints after the damage to spinal cord andCRH-related neuronal electrical activities were observed for determination the neural signaltransmission pathway of stress effects of acupuncture to the hypothalamus, revealing that the effect induced by acupuncture was related to the sensation and afferent fiber.Results:1.This study recorded653neurons units electrical activity in172male rat hypothalamicparaventricular nucleus. Selected47from121excitatory neurons units to give themintravenous injection of hydrocortisone. Experimental results showed that there were43neurons involved in the stress reaction,and wihich could be inhibited byhydrocortisone.According to the physiological characteristics of hypothalamic CRH neurons,it was believed that the neuronal electrical activities of this neuron were related to theneuronal electrical activities of CRH related neurons as the target neuron of this study.2. Considering the increased discharge of20%(current intensity of1mA) in therecorded target neurons by electrical stimulation of the renal nerves as the threshold amountof stimulation, different multiples (0.5,1,2and3times) of threshold amount of stimulationwere used in electro-acupuncture stimulation of Shenshu acupoint (specifically relatedacupoints). When the intensity of electric current reached2mA, the amount of stimulationwith increased discharge of20%were determined to be the optimum amount of stimulation inelectro-acupuncture stimulation.3.After electro-acupuncture stimulation of33acupoints, the neuronal electrical activitiesof the target neuron at24acupoints were increased by20%, with the order of effect activationas follows: Shenshu, Qimen, Ganshu> Jingmen, Dazhui> Riyue, Zhangmen> Erjia>Yanglingquan, Fuai, Shuigou, Mingmen> Taichong, Neiguan, Danzhong, Tianshu, Fengchi,Zusanli, Sanyinjiao> Shenmen, Daheng, Shangqu, Waiguan, and Zhongwan. Among them,Shenshu, Ganshu, Qimen, Jingmen, Riyue, Zhangmen, Dazhui and Erjia were the specificallyrelated acupoints; liver meridian, gallbladder meridian and governor meridian were hespecifically related meridians, and the same nerve segment of bladder meridian had a obviouseffect (mainly in the Beishu effect).4. Eleven CRH related neurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus were selectedfor observation of the activating effects of acupuncture of Shenshu (177.08±34.12, n=8) andQimen (148.16±21.32, n=7) on injured contralateral dorsal spinal cord (T4-T6) on theneuron were relatively weakened compared with those before the injury. Ten CRH relatedneurons in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus were selected for observation of the activating effects of acupuncture of Shenshu (114.35±12.06, n=9) and Qimen (105.11±10.27, n=8) on injured contralateral dorsolateral spinal cord (T4-T6) on the neuron wererelatively weakened compared with those before the injury. Eight CRH related neurons inhypothalamic paraventricular nucleus were selected for observation of the activating effects ofacupuncture of Shenshu (54.13±9.13, n=7) and Qimen (41.10±8.43, n=6) on transectedspinal cord (T4-T6) on the neuron were relatively weakened compared with those before theinjury.Conclusions:1. Acupuncture can activate hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus to participate in thestress response-induced neuronal (CRH-related neurons) electrical activities.2. Acupuncture activation of CRH-related neurons in hypothalamic paraventricularnucleus has acupoint and meridian specificity. The activating effects are different at the samemeridians of different parts or the same or adjacent nerve segments with different meridians,indicating that both the meridians and nerve segments should be considered in the clinicalacupoint selection for acupuncture. It is noteworthy that the local acupoint effect ofacupuncture in stress-induced regulation of related meridians is more obvious.3. The signal transmission of acupuncture activation of CRH-related neurons is closelyrelated to the dorsolateral spinal cord. The ascending fiber of the dorsolateral funiculus ismainly from the fine fiber of nociceptors (including myelinated A fibers and unmyelinated Cfiber endings). |
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