Effects of Acupuncture at Zu-San-Li (ST36) on the Activity of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis during Ethanol Withdrawal in Rats | Zendy

Zhenglin Zhao | Zendy; Bong Hyo Lee | Zendy; Feng Lin | Zendy; Yanqin Guo | Zendy; Yiyan Wu | Zendy; Sunghyeon In | Zendy; Sang Mi Park | Zendy; Sang Chan Kim | Zendy; Chae Ha Yang | Zendy; Rongjie Zhao | Zendy

Open Access

Effects of Acupuncture at Zu-San-Li (ST36) on the Activity of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis during Ethanol Withdrawal in Rats

Author(s) -

Zhenglin Zhao,

Bong Hyo Lee,

Feng Lin,

Yanqin Guo,

Yiyan Wu,

Sunghyeon In,

Sang Mi Park,

Sang Chan Kim,

Chae Ha Yang,

Rongjie Zhao

Publication year - 2014

Publication title -

journal of acupuncture and meridian studies

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 0.374

H-Index - 32

eISSN - 2093-8152

pISSN - 2005-2901

DOI - 10.1016/j.jams.2014.03.002

Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , hypothalamus , adrenocorticotropic hormone , radioimmunoassay , acupuncture , corticosterone , ethanol , saline , hormone , chemistry , alternative medicine , organic chemistry , pathology

The current study investigated the effects of acupuncture at Zu-San-Li (ST36) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during ethanol withdrawal in rats. Rats were intraperitoneally treated with 3 g/kg/day of ethanol or saline for 28 days. Following 24 hours of ethanol withdrawal, acupuncture was applied at bilateral ST36 points or non-acupoints (tail) for 1 minute. Plasma levels of corticosterone (CORT) and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA), and the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) protein levels in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus were also examined by RIA 20 minutes after the acupuncture treatment. RIA showed significantly increased plasma levels of CORT and ACTH in the ethanol-withdrawn rats compared with the saline-treated rats, which were inhibited significantly by the acupuncture at the acupoint ST36 but not at the non-acupoint. Additionally, ethanol withdrawal promoted CRF protein expressions in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, which were also blocked by the acupuncture at ST36. These findings suggest that acupuncture at the specific acupoint ST36 can inhibit ethanol withdrawal-induced hyperactivation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and it may be mediated via the modulation of hypothalamic CRF.

The content you want is available to Zendy users.

Already have an account? Click here to sign in.

Having issues? You can contact us here

Accelerating Research