Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 1996 ; 21(4): 46-9.

[Effect of acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment on brain dopamine level of MPTP-lesioned C57BL mice]

Zhu W, Xi G, Ju J.

Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian.

C57BL mice were treated with MPTP and the effect of acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment on the MPTP lesioned C57BL mice was investigated. The result showed that MPTP significantly decreased caudate nucleus (CN) DA and DOPAC levels and midbrain DA levels. The ratio of DOPAC/ DA increased in CN. After treatment, CN and midbrain DA levels increased in acupuncture, Chinese medicine, acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine and LD treated groups, DOPAC/DA ratio of acupuncture, Chinese medicine and acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine treated groups closed to that of control. DOPAC/DA ratio of LD treated groups closed to that of only MPTP treated group. The result showes that acupuncture, Chinese medicine and LD therapy can increase the decreased DA levels in MPTP mice, and DOPAC/DA ratio in CN of acupuncture, Chinese medicine treated groups closed to that of control, suggesting that acupuncture and Chinese medicine therapy may have protection effect on neuron that different from the replacement therapy of LD.