Alterations in the function of cerebral dopaminergic and serotonergic systems following electroacupuncture and moxibustion applications: possible correlates with their antistress and XXXX actions.

@entity35 @entity5539 @entity935 @entity750
Alterations in cerebral monoamines following application of electroacupuncture were investigated using conscious @entity35 with and without application of restraining stress. The @entity935 and @entity750 levels were significantly decreased in the nucleus accumbens, caudate putamen, and lateral hypothalamus and increased in the dorsal raphe nucleus by restraining stress. On the other hand, application of electroacupuncture on the lumbar and hindlimb segments eliminated the above changes in @entity935 , while the changes in @entity750 were attenuated by lumbar and hindlimb electroacupuncture. However, the effects of hindlimb electroacupuncture were greater than those of lumbar electroacupuncture. These results clearly indicate that lumbar and hindlimb electroacupuncture stimulations have differential effects on brain monoaminergic neurons in @entity35 exposed to restraining stress. Moxa burning stimulation was applied to the lumbar and hindlimb segments of @entity35 without restraining stress. The @entity935 level was significantly increased in the midbrain substantia nigra-ventrotegmental area by hindlimb moxibusion. On the other hand, the @entity750 levels were significantly increased in the nucleus amygdala by lumber moxibusion and decreased in the nucleus accumbens by hindlimb moxibusion. The present results indicate that electroacupuncture applied to the lumbar and hindlimb segments has an antistress effect, while the application of moxibustion to the lumbar and hindlimb segments was likely to stimulate the functions of mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons. We suggest that functional alterations in cerebral dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons are involved in the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture and moxibustion, especially because of their antistress and @entity5539 actions.
