Neurosci Lett. 2002 Oct; 332(1): 17-20.

Effects of acupuncture on the 5-hydroxytryptamine synthesis and tryptophan hydroxylase expression in the dorsal raphe of exercised rats.

Lee SH, Chung SH, Lee JS, Kim SS, Shin HD, Lim BV, Jang MH, Kim H, Kim EH, Kim CJ.

Department of Oriental Rehabilitation Medicine, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea.

In the present study, the effects of acupuncture on the endurance treadmill exercise, serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) synthesis, and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) expression in the dorsal raphe nuclei were investigated. Acupunctural stimulation were bilaterally inserted into the locus of Zusanli in each hind leg for 20 min. Onset of exhaustion time on the treadmill running was increased significantly by acupunctural stimulation and exercise-induced increments of the 5-HT synthesis and TPH expression in the dorsal raphe were suppressed by acupunctural stimulation. Based on the results, it can be suggested that the suppressive effects of acupunctural stimulation on the 5-HT synthesis and TPH expression in the dorsal raphe during exercise is one of ergogenic mechanisms of acupuncture.