Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1991 ; 16(2): 129-37.

[Research on the relationship between central acetylcholine and acupuncture analgesia]

Guan X, Wang C, Yu B, Liang X, Zhang Y, Zeng X, Liu X, Shi J, Ai M.

Dept. of Research on Acupuncture Analgesia & Neurobiology, Tongji Medical University, Wuhan, China.

The article systematically reported our physiological and biochemical work on the relationship between central acetylcholine and acupuncture analgesia. The results indicate: 1. Acupuncture on acupoints could produce analgesia. 2. Ach contents in cerebrospinal fluids and brain increased under acupuncture analgesia. 3. AChE activities iu brain elevated under acupuncture analgesia. 4. ChE inhibitor reinforced the effects of acupuncture and inhibitor of ACh synthesis could inhibit the effects of acupuncture, which could be reversed by administration of ACh and chlorocholine. M-AChR antagonists could also inhibit the effects of acupuncture. 5. The turnover rate of ACh in diencephalon, caudate nucleus and spinal dorsal horn accelerated when acupuncture analgesia. The discussion was given on the variation of metabolic dynamics in combination with related literature.