Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine (동의생리병리학회지)

The Physiological Society of Korean Medicine and The Society of Pathology in Korean Medicine (대한동의생리학회·한의병리학회)
권호 표지

Electroacupuncture to Shenmen Ameliorates Behavioral and Biochemical Responses to Restraint Stress in Rats

  • Shim, Hyun-Soo (Department of Integrative Medicine, The Catholic University) ;
  • Park, Hyun-Jung (Department of Integrative Medicine, The Catholic University) ;
  • Kim, Kyung-Soo (Department of Integrative Medicine, The Catholic University) ;
  • Hahm, Dae-Hyun (Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Lee, Hye-Jung (Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University) ;
  • Shim, In-Sop (Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, Kyung Hee University)
  • Received : 2010.02.02
  • Accepted : 2010.03.31
  • Published : 2010.04.25
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Abstract

Acupuncture has been used for the treatment and prevention of stress-related disorders. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture on the behavioral and biochemical responses to restraint stress was evaluated in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats underwent to immobilization stress for 21 days (6 hours/day). Electroacupuncture (2 Hz, 2 mA, and 10 minutes) was applied either to the acupuncture point HT7 (Shenmen) or the nonacupuncture point in the tail for the last 7 days. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: the normal group (n=10, without the restraint stress), the stress group (n=10, with restraint stress), the HT7 group (n=10, with restraint stress and electroacupuncture to HT7), and the NA group (n=10, with restraint stress and electroacupuncture to the nonacupuncture point). The anxiety-related behavior was tested using the elevated plus maze and the Vogel test on day 22. The expression of tyrosine hydroxylase in the locus coeruleus was measured by immunohistochemistry. R maze and the Vogecreased the response of the anxiety-related behavior. The number of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells were also increased. The HT7 group showed a significant decrease of anxiety-related behavioral response, compared to the stress group. The tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive expression was also decreased in the HT7 group. These findings suggestthat electroacupuncture to HT7 might play a role in reducing the stress-related responses, which may be helpful for the treatment of stress-related disorders.

Keywords

References

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