• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.319-329
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was finding the pain inhibitory effect of acupuncture based on rataining time at LI -4. The pain at dentes incisor was evoked by noxious electric stimulation and digastric electromyogram(dEMG) changes based on time interval were measured. To do this, the opioid antagonist was administered intraperitoneally and four groups were made for convenience. Without naloxone, dEMG was changed by either retaining the needle for 40 minutes (Group I) or by lifting and thrusting the needle (Group II). With naloxone administration, dEMG was changed by either retaining the needle for 40 minutes (Group III) or by lifting and thrusting the needle (Group IV). The results are as following 1. The pain inhibitory effect of acupuncture at LI -4 was expressed best in Group I. 2. The pain inhibitory effect was somewhat expressed in Group II but the effect was smaller than Group I. 3 .In Groups III and IV, the pain inhibitory effect was not expressed. The overall result should be the foundation for the further studies to figure out the underlying mechanism of acupuncture. In addition, it is assumed that the results will be useful for optimal retaining time of acupucture for its maximal effect.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권6호
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• pp.687-693
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• 1998

This study was performed to examine the mean arterial pressure and nociceptive jaw opening reflex after microinjection of glutamate into the amygdala in freely moving rats, and to investigate the mechanisms of antinociceptive action of amygdala. Animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg, ip). A stainless steel guide cannula (26 gauge) was implanted in the amygdala and lateral ventricle. Stimulating and recording electrodes were implanted into each of the incisor pulp and anterior digastric muscle. Electrodes were led subcutaneously to the miniature cranial connector sealed on the top of the skull with acrylic resin. After 48 hours of recovery from surgery, mean arterial pressure and digastric electromyogram (dEMG) were monitored in freely moving rats. Electrical shocks (200 ${\mu}sec$ duration, $0.5{\sim}2$ mA intensity) were delivered at 0.5 Hz to the dental pulp every 2 minutes. After injection of 0.35 M glutamate into the amygdala, mean arterial pressure was increased by $8{\pm}2$ mmHg and dEMG was suppressed to $71{\pm}5%$ of the control. Injection of 0.7 M glutamate elevated mean arterial pressure by $25{\pm}5$ mmHg and suppressed dEMG to $20{\pm}7%$ of the control. The suppression of dEMG were maintained for 30 minutes. Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, inhibited the suppression of dEMG elicited by amygdaloid injection of glutamate from $28{\pm}4\;to\;68{\pm}5%$ of the control. Methysergide, a serotonin receptor antagonist, also inhibited the suppression of dEMG from $33{\pm}5\;to\;79{\pm}4%$ of the control. However, phentolamine, an ${\alpha}-adrenergic$ receptor antagonist, did not affect the suppression of dEMG. These results suggest that the amygdala can modulate both cardiovascular and nociceptive responses and that the antinociception of amygdala seems to be attributed to an augmentation of descending inhibitory influences on nociceptive pathways via serotonergic and opioid pathways.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.307-312
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• 1998

This study was performed to investigate the mechanism of central analgesic effects of antidepressants. Thirty four male rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (40 mg/kg, ip). A stainless steel guide cannula and a PE tube (PE10) were implanted into the lateral ventricle and cisterna magna area. Stimulating and recording electrodes were implanted into the incisor pulp and anterior digastric muscle. Electrodes were led subcutaneously to the miniature cranial connector sealed on the top of the skull with acrylic resin. The jaw opening reflex was used in freely moving rats, and antidepressants were administered intracisternally in order to eliminate the effects of anesthetic agents on the pain assessment and evaluate the importance of the central action site of antidepressants. After 48 hours of recovery from surgery, digastric electromyogram (dEMG) of freely moving rats was recorded. Electrical shocks (200 ${\mu}sec$ duration, 0.5-2 mA intensity) were delivered at 0.5 Hz to the dental pulp every 2 minute. Intracisternal administration of $15\;{\mu}g$ imipramine suppressed dEMG elicited by noxious electrical stimulation in the tooth pulp to $76{\pm}6%$ control. Intracisternal administration of $30\;{\mu}g$ desipramine, nortriptyline, or imipramine suppressed dEMG remarkably to $48{\pm}2,\;27{\pm}8,\;or\;25{\pm}5%$ of the control, respectively. Naloxone, methysergide, and phentolamine blocked the suppression of dEMG produced by intracisternal antidepressants from $23{\pm}2\;to\;69{\pm}4%,\;from\;32{\pm}5\;to\;80{\pm}9%,\;and\;from\;24{\pm}6\;to\;77{\pm}5%$ of the control, respectively. These results indicate that antidepressants produce antinociception through central mechanisms in the orofacial area. Antinociception of intracisternal antidepressants seems to be mediated by an augmentation of descending pain inhibitory influences on nociceptive pathways.

• 대한소아치과학회지
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.788-796
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various electroacupuncture duration induced by acupuncture point-Zusanli ($S_{36}$) electrical stimulation on inhibition of amplitude of digastric electromyogram (dEMG) evoked by noxious electrical stimuli around the mental foramen. intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital in an initial dose of 50mg/kg and maintenance doses of 4.5mg/kg/h were given through a cannula in the femoral vein using a constant infusion pump. A pair of stimulating electrodes were inserted for noxious stimuli around the mental foramen. An irritant electronic stimuli pulse (0.2 Hz, 0.1 ms duration) was produced with an intensity of about $1.5{\times}2$ times threshold for evoking the dEMG. The anterior belly of the digastric muscle was exposed and a pair of 0.1mm wire electrodes were inserted for dEMG recording. Acupuncture point stimulation on Zusanli (2 Hz, 250 ${\mu}s$, biphasic pulse, 2 V) was delivered by Dental Electronic Anesthesia (3M, U.S.A). For periods of electronic stimulation of 10, 20, and 30min, the amplitudes of dEMG were measured on the oscilloscope and on the monitor connected to the amplifier. The following results were obtained: The dEMG was decreased to 73.4% of that in the control set after 10 min electroacupunture stimulation (Group I); The dEMG was decreased to 77.1% (10min), 54.0.% (20min) of that in the control set after 20minutes of electroacupunture stimulation (Group II). The dEMG was decreased to 73.3% (10min), 61.9% (20min), 76.2% (30min) of that in the control set after 30 min of electroacupunture stimulation (Group III). From these results, it may be that in the electroacupuncture stimulation on the Zusnali resulted in a reduction of amplitude of dEMG and that the most effective electroacupuncture stimulation period was 20min.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.106-112
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Bee Venom Herb-Acupuncture on the jaw opening reflex evoked by tooth pulp stimulation. Rats were anesthetized with thiopental sodium given intraperitoneally in an initial dose of 80mg/kg. Maintenance doses of 5mg/kg thiopental sodium were given through a cannular in the femoral vein as required to maintain light anesthesia. To apply noxious stimuli, a pair of enameled wires were inserted into the tooth pulp of the lower incisor. The effects of conditioning stimuli were estimated as an indicator of the degree of suppression of the digastric muscle electromyogram(dEMG) in the jaw opening reflex. Bee Venom Herb- Acupuncture(0.2% solution 0.1ml/rat) was injected to Hapgok(LI4) loci. In addition, Normal Saline (0.1ml/rat) was injected to Hapgok loci so as to compare the degree of suppression elicited from Bee-Venom. By administration of Bee Venom Herb-Acupuncture, the amplitude of dEMG was maximally suppressed to $67.5{\pm}3.38%$ ipsilaterally, 73.33{\pm}8.00%$ contralaterally. Generally, the dEMG activities caused by electrical stimulation were gradually suppressed during the stimulation and maximal suppressive effect showed at 15min after its onset. However the dEMG activities by Be Venom Herb-Acupuncture were immediately suppressed after its onset and the suppressive effect continued for a long time compared to electrical stimulation. In conclusion, Bee Venom Herb-Acupuncture may have a different mechanism of analgesia from that of electro-acupuncture and contribute to the modulation of pain analgesia.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.35-51
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to prove the analgesic effects of apitoxin and its mechanism via jaw-opening reflex(JOR) and measuring expression of mRNA in Phospholipase and Tryptophan hydroxylase(TPH) using RT-PCR. The experiments were carried out on Sprague-Dawley rats(300-400g) and mastocytoma(P-185 HTR) for JOR and RT-PCR, respectively. Rats anesthetized with thiopental sodium (80mg/kg) were used in the Tooth Pulp stimulation induced JOR. The amplitude of a digastric electromyogram (dEMG) was recorded during the stimulation at an intensity of 1.5 times the threshold for JOR. Apitoxin used in this experiment was diluted with normal saline by 1:1000. Apitoxin was injected intravenously into the test group while normal saline to the control group. However, it was injected directly into the cell of mastocytoma. We referred to base sequence registered in Genbank in designing primers for RT-PCR. The results were as follows; (1)Compared with control group, analgesic effect started to show right after Sprague-Dawely rats were treated with apitoxin($71.50{\pm}8.08$) and lasted for 50 minutes. (2)As a result of the experiment of RT-PCR, we witnessed significant changes in the degree of expression of phospholipase or rate-limiting enzyme of biosynthesis of prostaglandins with $10{\mu}g/ml$ apitoxin.($31.74{\pm}18.98%$, P<0.05) (3)As a result of the experiment of RT-PCR, we witnessed significant changes in the degree of expression of TPH or rate-limiting enzyme in biosynthesis of serotonin with $10{\mu}g/ml$ apitoxin.($131.37{\pm}16.87%$, P<0.05). These results suggest that $10{\mu}g/ml$ apitoxin have the most analgesic effects. This study showed that apitoxin has analgesic effects and held good for 50 minutes. The injection of apitoxin has brought out changes in the degree of expression of phospholipase and TPH. These results strongly suggest that analgesic mechanism by apitoxin is closely related to prostaglandins and serotonin.