Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1992 ; 17(3): 161-5.

[Electrophysiological observation on the role of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus in acupuncture analgesia]

Han Y, Yin Q.

Laboratory of Neurobiology, Suzhou Medical Collge, Jiangsu.

In this experiment, the role of PVN in acupuncture analgesia was further investigated with electrophysiological technique. In wistar rats the unit discharge was recorded extracellularly, Noxious stimulation was applied to sciatic nerve, and the electroacupuncture was performed on acupoints "Zusanli" and "Sanyinjiao". Totally eighty-two units were recorded successfully from PVN. 49 units of them reacted to electroacupuncture with excitatory (14), inhibitory (23) or on significant effect (12). Various types of reactions including excitation (12), inhibition (6), excito-inhibition (4) or inhibito-excitation (3) were observed on 43 units during noxious stimulation of sciatic nerve. The remainder 18 units had no significant reaction. After electroacupuncture those units reacting with excitatory effect on noxious stimulation decreased their firing rate, and those with inhibitory effect increased their firing rate. The duration of nociceptive reaction was shortened after electroacupuncture in both types of units. It was suggested that electroacupuncture could influence the activities and decrease the nociceptive reactions of PVN neurons, which might be considered as electrophysiological evidence of the involvement of PVN in acupuncture analgesia.