Melatonin might be one possible medium of electroacupuncture anti-seizures

To explore the alteration of melatonin (MT) levels in pineal, hippocampus a nd serum during seizure crises and electroacupuncture (EA) anti-seizures, w e established a rat seizure model bymicroinjecting benzylpenicillin into hi ppocampus. EA was performed on "Fengu" (DU 16) and "Jinsuo" (DU 8) acupoint s in rats. Electroencephalogram (EEG) of rats was recorded and the relative power (RP) of 1 similar to 30 HZ band of EEG was analyzed. A capillary ele ctrophoresis-electrochemical detection method was used to determine MT cont ents. Our results indicated that MT level was elevated in pineal and hippoc ampus, and first had no change then significantly evaluated in serum during seizure crisis. The elevation of MT level was greatly potentiated with 30 min EA treatment (P <0.05). Meanwhile, the degree of seizures and the incre ases of EEG RP induced by seizures were significantly reduced (P <0.05). Be caust MT was considered as an antistressor and a natural downregulator of e pileptiform activity, we postulate that the elevation in MT level during se izures may be one endogenous mechanism that counteracts convulsions and sei zure-induced stress; A further elevation of MT levels with EA treatment sug gests that MT might be one of the possible mediums of EA anti-seizures.