Summary
The ACh content and turnover in the brain of rat during the course of acupuncture analgesia (AA) were investigated. In electro-acupuncture (EA) group, the pain threshold was significantly higher than that of the control (P<0.0l) and the acetylcholine (ACh) content in the brain increased obviously.
In order to determine the rate of ACh utilization and synthesis, hemicholineum-3 (HC-3) and physostigmine were used as tool drugs to block the synthesis and degradation of ACh respectively. It was discovered that during AA, the ACh utilization rate increased significantly in comparison with the control group. In caudate nucleus it increased to more than twice and in thalamus nearly to twice the amount. At the same time the rate of ACh synthesis also increased. These indicate that the elevation of ACh content in the central nerve system (CNS) is the result of a new dynamic equilibrium between the increase in ACh utilization rate and synthesis rate induced by EA. Reviewing a lot of papers concerned, one can see that the increase in ACh utilization rate is an important evidence that ACh actively participates in the action of AA.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Craigie’s neuroanatomy of rat (revised and expanded by Zeman W), Acad Press, New York, 1963
Gaddum JH, Chang HC, et al: Choline esters in tissue extracts. J Physiol 79: 255, 1933
8(3): 59, 1979
105, 1979
571, 1975
111, 1979
9(3): 88, 1980
68, 89, 139–142, 1977
31(1): 11, 1979
24(7): 331, 1979
Sparf B: On the turnover of acetylcholine in the brain: An experimental study using intravenously injected radioactive choline. Acta Physiol Scand (Suppl) 397: 1973
Karlen B, et al: Effect of physostigmine and atropine on acetylcholine turnover in mouse brain. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’ s Arch Pharmacol 308: 61, 1979
Noble EP, et al: A simple and rapid method for injecting3H-norepinephrine into the lateral ventricle of the free brain. Life Sci 6: 281, 1967
1977
Gardiner JE: The inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis in brain by a hemicholineum. J Biochem 81:297, 1961
Hodgkin AL, et al: Choline uptake by giant axons of loligo. J Physiol (London) 179: 26, 1965
Dren AT, et al: Effects of hemicholineum (HC-3) on EEG activation and brain acetylcholine in the dog. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 161:141, 1968
Brodi BB, et al: Application of steady state kinetics to the estimation of synthesis rate and turnover time of tissue catecholamine. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 54: 493, 1966
104, 1979
9(4): 74, 1980
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xinmin, G., Caiyuan, W., Yuwen, Z. et al. Studies on the turnover of acetylcholine in the brain of rats during the course of acupuncture analgesia. Acta Academiae Medicinae Wuhan 3, 129–136 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02856645
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02856645