Zhongguo Ying Yong Sheng Li Xue Za Zhi. 1997 Nov; 13(4): 342-5.

[Somatostatin in NRM plays roles in inducing analgesia and enhancing electroacupuncture analgesia]

Liu L, Song C, Wang J, Yu J, Lin B.

Department of Physiology, Beijing Medical College of The PLA.

The effects of microinjection of somatostatin (SS), somatostatin depletor cysteamine (CS) and anti-somatostatin serum (ASSS) on the pain threshold (PT) and electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia were investigated in the rat. The potassium iontophoresis induced tail-flick was used to measure the pain threshold. The "Zusanli" were stimulated with EA. The results indicated that microinjection of SS into necleus raphe magnus (NRM), could elevate PT and enhance EA analgesia. PT and EA analgesia were decreased when SS in NRM was depleted by CS or neutralized by ASSS. These data revealed that SS in NRM plays important roles in inducing analgesia and enhancing electroacupuncture analgesia.