Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1991 ; 16(1): 39-42.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on the contents of substance P in the nucleus of the solitary tract in rats]

Bai L, Qiu S.

Department of Anatomy, Beijing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Six pairs of rats were used in the experiment. The sciatic nerve was stimulated in one of every pair with the electric needle. Then the substance P (SP-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) were showed with immunohistochemical technique (ABC METHOD). The other of every pair was as the control. All experimental procedures were the same as the electroacupuncture group except that the sciatic nerve wasn't stimulated. The contents of SP of NST (at the area postrema segment) of both the electroacupuncture and the control were measured with the micro-spectroscopic image analyser. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The distribution positions of SP-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the electroacupuncture group were the same as in the control group. That is, SP-like immunoreactive nerve fibers distributed from the caudal part to the rostral part in NST. 2. The contents and the area of SP-like immunoreactive nerve fibers of the electroacupuncture were more than the control. There was a significant difference between the two groups. The results mentioned above suggested that the role of NST is involved in the acupuncture analgesia.