Effect of Acupuncture on Contents of Tyrosine Hydroxylase and Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Ventral Tegmental Area of Heroin Self-administrating Rats
- Author:
Zhongchun ZHU
;
Jun HU
;
Ping XU
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Heroin Dependence;
Electroacupuncture;
Substance Withdrawal Syndrome;
Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein;
Tyrosine Hydroxylase
- From:
Journal of Acupuncture and Tuina Science
2006;4(1):7-12,封二
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: This present study is to investigate the biochemical adaptations in the related brain regions of the mesolimbic dopamine system, such as the ventral tegrnental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (Nac), amygdale (Amy), prefrontal cortex (PFC) , substantia nigra (SN) and caudateputamen (Cpu) in response to heroin self-administration in rats and observe the effect of electroacupuncture on them. Methods: 2hirty rats were trained by nose-poking response to establish stable intravenous heroin self-administration within 14 days, and then divided randomly into model group (group B) including 6 rats, withdrawal group which were withdrawn from heroin for 1 week (group C, n = 6) and for 2 weeks (group D, n= 6), during which time they only lived in their individual home cages,and electro-acupuncture group which were also withdrawn from heroin for 1 week (group E, n= 6) and for 2 weeks (group F, n= 6), during which time they were given electro-acupuncture treatment for 20 min daily and then returned to their individual home cages; in the meantime, another 6 rats were trained by nose-poking response with saline for 14 days as control (group A); Then the levels of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in VTA, Nac, Amy, PFC, SN, Cpu were detected with immunohistochemistry method. Results: The leveks of TH and GFAP in VTA of the heroin self-administrating rats were obviously increased, and the levels of TH and GFAP in Nac were also decreased, and these changes were not found in SN, Cpu, Amy and PFC; Electro-acupuncture could promote the up-regulation of TH and GFAP in VTA and down-regulation of TH and GFAP in Nac to return to the normal level. Conclusions: The chronic heroin self-administration produced some biochemical adaptations in the rdated brain regions of the mesolimbic dopamine system and electroacupuncture could promote the repair of the injured DA neurons in VTA of heroin addicted rats and their functional recovery.
