Acupunct Electrother Res. 1992 Jul-Sep; 17(3): 209-20.

Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus plays a role in acupuncture analgesia through the central nervous system in the rat.

Yang J, Lin BC.

Dept. of Nuclear Medicine, Nan Fang Hospital, Guangzhao, China.

This work investigates the effect of hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) on acupuncture analgesia in the rat. Electrical stimulation of PVN or injection of L-glutamate sodium into PVN could enhance the analgesic effect induced by acupuncture Zusanli (St. 36) while the electrical cauterization of PVN is decreased; Removal of the pituitary could not influence the effect of enhancing acupuncture analgesia induced by the injection of L-glutamate sodium into PVN. These results suggest that PVN might play an important role in acupuncture analgesia through central nervous system.