Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi. 2000 Jul; 20(7): 521-3.

[Effect of acupuncture on level of monoamines and activity of adenosine triphosphatase in lateral hypothalamic area of obese rats]

Liu Z, Sun F, Han Y.

Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing (210029).

OBJECTIVE: To study the mechanism of acupuncture in treating simple obesity. METHODS: Central nerve push-pull perfusion and biochemical technique were used to observe the effect of acupuncture on obese rats, and the obese parameters and the change of monoamine transmitters and activity of ATPase in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) of the obese rats were investigated. RESULTS: The levels of noradrenaline (NA) in LHA of obese rats were higher than those in the normal group, but the level of serotonin (5-HT) and the activity of ATPase in LHA of obese rats were lower than those of the normal rats. After acupuncture treatment, the weight of the obese rats reduced, while the level of NA in LHA reduced and the 5-HT and activity of ATPase increased (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The effective regulation on LHA of obese rats is possibly one of the key factors in the anti-obesity of acupuncture.