Ea To Adjust The Golden Hamster Circadian Rhythm Phase Characteristics And Transduction Mechanisms Of 5-ht Receptor Research

Objective: To research the zeitgeber property and the mechanism of electro-acupuncture on circadian ryhthm, and study the interaction of electro-acupuncture on photic and nonphotic zeitgeber.Methods: applied the methods of Aschoff entrainment, we obversed the phase response curve of electro-acupuncturing "Baihui"(Du20), "Changqiang" (Dul), system injecting 8-OH-DPAT, photic stimuli, electro-acupuncture associated with 8-OH-DPAT and electro-acupuncture associated with photic stimuli on hamster spontaneous behavior circadian rhythm. Moreover the regulating effects of electro-acupuncture on the first signal conduction transmitters in the suprachiasmatic nucleus(SCN) were detected by using radioligand binding assay of receptors and immuno-histo-chemical method.Results: electro-acupuncture circadian-depended regulated the acrophase of hamster spontaneous behavior circadian rhythm. In constant darkness electro-acupuncture induced phase advance at CT6 and CT9, it also elicted phase delay at CT18 and CT21 in hamster spontaneous behavior circadian rhythm. Electro-acupuncture attenuated the entrainment of photic stimuli and enhanced the effect of 8-OH-DPAT. At CT9 electro-acupuncture improved 5-HT release and activity of 5-HT? receptors in the SCN.Conclusion: electro-acpuncture is one kind of nonphotic zeitgeber. It may modulate the phase-shifting of photic stimuli and have a synergism with nonphotic entrainment, and its mechanism may be that acupuncture could encourage the release of 5-HT and the activity of 5-HT7 receptors in the SCN.