Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1995 ; 20(1): 20-3.

[Effect of electroacupuncture on the discharges of pain-sensitive neurons in the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus of rats]

Huang Z, Tong Z, Sun W.

Department of physiology, First Medical College of PLA, Guangzhou.

The discharges of pain-sensitive neurons of the hypothalamic dorsomedial nucleus (DMH) in Sprague-Dawley rats were recorded with glass microelectrodes, After electroacupuncture acupoints "Zusanli" and "Sanyinjiao", the rate of spontaneous discharges and the rate and duration of the pain-evoked discharges of pain-excitatory units of DMH were profoundly decreased, and the spontaneous firing rate of pain-inhibitory units was increased while their inhibitory response to nociceptive stimulation was released by the electroacupuncture. The results mentioned above suggest that DMH participates in the activity of acupuncture analgesia.