Central Neurotransmitters and Acupuncture Analgesia

Abstract

The role played by central neurotransmitters in acupuncture analgesia was evaluated by correlating neurochemical changes in central nervous system with the acupuncture effect, as well as modification of the acupuncture effects by pharmacological manipulations of central neurotransmitters. The results of experimental studies which were performed mainly on rats and rabbits indicated tha central serotonin and endogenous opiate-like substances (OLS) seem to be the most important substrates for mediation of acupucture analgesia while central cateholamines, especially nor-epinephrine through alpha receptors, may exert an antagonistic effect. It was found that prolonged and repeated acupuncture resulted in a gradual decrease of the acupucture effect. The development of some endogenous anti-opiate substrates (AOS) in central nervous system was tentatively implicated.