Sympathetic-adrenal Medulla System Mechanism Of Electro Acupuncture Treatment Of Insomnia

Objective:Observing the effect of locuscoeruleus Norepinephrine on insomnia and the influence of electroacupuncture treatment of "HT7" and "SP6" on the sleep activity, behavioral activity and plasma catecholamine neurotransmitters of insomnia model rats, to investigate the sympathetic-adrenal medulla systemmechanism of electroacupuncture treatment of insomnia.Methods:Dividing the healthy SPF grade SD rats to blank group, false injection group, NE model group and NE model electroacupuncture group randomly, with 30 rats in each group. The NE model group and the NE model electroacupuncture group were modeled by the micro injection of NE in the paracele. The false injection group was inserted with micro injection needles but not injected with NE. The blank group was fed normally. Each group had the locomotion activity test,the elevated plus-maze test and the rat tail suspension test after the modeling. Then, the NE model electroacupuncture group was treated with electroacupuncture treatment of "HT7" and "SP6", and this treatment was continued for four days. The other groups were captured simultaneously without the electroacupuncture treatment. After the treatment,each group had the locomotion activity test, the elevated plus-maze test and the rat tail suspension test. Finally, the NE content in the hypothalamus and brainstem and the NE, DA and E content in the plasma were detected for each rat.Results:(1)There is no statistic difference (P>0.05) in the weight, the stationary time in the rat tail suspension test, the OE% and OT% in the elevated plus-maze test between blank group, false injection group, NE model group and NE model electroacupuncture group before the modeling.(2)After the modeling, the stationary time in the rat tail suspension test has no difference between each group (P>0.05). But the OE% and OT% in the elevated plus-maze test, the daytime activity and the nighttime activity have statistic difference between the groups (P<0.05). ① The daytime activity of the NE model group and NE model electroacupuncture group is significantly more than that of the blank group and the false injection group (P<0.05). The nighttime activity of the NE model group and NE model electroacupuncture group is significantly less than that of the blank group and the false injection group (P<0.05). There is no difference of the daytime activity and the nighttime activity between the blank group and the false injection group(i)>0.05). ②the OE% and OT% of the NE model group and NE model electroacupuncture group is significantly lower than that of the blank group and the false injection group (P<0.05), and there is no difference between the blank group and the false injection group CP>0.05).(3)After the Electrical acupuncture treatment, the stationary time in the rat tail suspension test has no difference between each group (P>0.05). But the OE% and OT% in the Elevated plus-maze test, the daytime activity and the nighttime activity have statistic difference between the groups (P<0.05). ①The daytime activity and nighttime activity:The NE model group has much more daytime activity and less nighttime activity than the blank group and the false injection group (P<0.05). The NE model electroacupuncture group has much less daytime activity and more nighttime activity than the NE model group (P<0.05). There is no difference of the daytime activity and the nighttime activity between the NE model electroacupuncture group, blank group and the false injection group(P>0.05). ②The OE% and OT% in the Elevated plus-maze test: The OE% and OT% of the NE model group is significantly lower than that of the blank group and the false injection group (P<0.05). The OE% and OT% of the NE model electroacupuncture group is significantly higher than that of the NE model group (P<0.05). But there is no difference between the NE model electroacupuncture group, blank group and the false injection group(P>0.05).(4)After the Electrical acupuncture treatment, the NE content in the hypothalamus and brainstem, the NE, DA and E content in the plasma have statistic difference between the groups. ①The NE content in the hypothalamus and brainstem:the NE content of the NE model group is significantly higher than the blank group and the false injection group (P<0.05). The NE content of the NE model electroacupuncture group is significantly lower than that of the NE model group (P<0.05). There is no difference between the NE model electroacupuncture group, blank group and the false injection group(P>0.05). ②The NE, DA and E content in the plasma:The NE, DA and E content of the NE model group is significantly higher than the blank group and the false injection group (P< 0.05). The NE, DA and E content of the NE model electroacupuncture group is significantly lower than that of the NE model group (P<0.05). There is no difference between the NE model electroacupuncture group, blank group and the false injection group(P>0.05).Conclusions:After the micro injection of NE in the paracele, the model rats show significant increase of the NE content in the hypothalamus and brainstem and the NE, DA and E content in the plasma catecholamines. The rats would increasethe daytime activity, decrease the nighttime activity and show anxiety, which is similar to the performance of human sleep disorders. The electroacupuncture treatment of HT7" and "SP6" could decrease the NE content in the hypothalamus and brainstem and the NE, DA and E content in the plasma catecholamines, and thus cure the anxiety and somnipathy state of the modeled rats. Locus coeruleus NE is the key material in SAMS. The increase of the neuron viability of NE will excite SAMS and lead to insomnia. The acusector treatment could modulate the neuron viability of NE to improve the dysfunction of SAMS and cure insomnia.