DECREASE OF ANESTHETICS ACTIVITY BY ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON JEN-CHUNG POINT IN RABBITS

The effect of acupuncture at life-saving point on the central nervous depressive action of anesthetics was investigated in rabbits. Stimulat ion with electroacupuncture (EA) inserted in Jen-Chung point, which is located at the mid-point on the upper lip, decreased the sleeping tim e induced by pentobarbital or propofol. However, this action of acupun cture was not modified by naloxone at the doses sufficient to block op iate receptors. Plasma beta-endorphin detected by radioimmunoassay was also not markedly changed in rabbits which received similar electrost imulation. Moreover, pretreatment with para-chlorophenylalanine at a d ose sufficient to deplete endogenous 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) failed to influence the action of EA. Mediation of endogenous opioids and/or 5-HT in this action of EA was then ruled out. Prazosin reversed the s leeping time decreasing action of acupuncture in a dose-dependent mann er. Also, the action of acupuncture was eliminated in rabbits which re ceived intracerebroventricular injection of guanethidine at a dose whi ch could block noradrenergic nerve terminals. It is suggested that sti mulation of Jen-Chung point through EA can activate noradrenergic neur otransmission in the brain, which in turn reduces the central nervous depressive activity of anesthetics.