Biull Eksp Biol Med. 1989 Jan; 107(1): 59-61.

[Effects of repeated acupuncture action on pain sensitivity and beta-endorphin contents of the hypothalamus and midbrain of the rat]

Bragin EO, Popkova EV, Vasilenko GF.

Changes in latencies (L) of nociceptive (NC) reactions of hot plate (HP) tail flick (TF) tests and dynamics of beta-endorphin (beta-ED) in hypothalamus and midbrain were studied in albino rats receiving 15 sessions of acupuncture (A) (20 min daily in bilateral Ho-Ku). It was shown that repeated A facilitated prolongation of LHP and LTF as compared to baseline and control levels. A decrease of the anti-NC systems capacity for activation in response to each A stimulation was observed. The dynamics of beta-endorphin in hypothalamus showed an opposite tendency as compared to that in midbrain. It is suggested that such a correlation of beta-ED activities in midbrain and hypothalamus might be one of the reasons for anti-NC mechanisms adaptation to A.