自从Terenius及Hughes等人发现脑组织中存在着天然的镇痛物质—内源性吗啡肽以来

学者们注意到该物质与镇痛的关系。临床上看到某些慢性疼痛病人脑脊液中的吗啡样物质的含量减少

用电针治疗后

疼痛缓解

吗啡样物质的含量增加

动物实验发现针刺镇痛后脑组织或其灌流液中吗啡样物质升高

但当用吗啡拮抗剂纳洛酮后

不但阻断了针刺的镇痛作用

且The met-enkephalin-like immunofluorescence reactivity was oberserved in nerve cell bodies (except their nuclei) and nerve fibers. More strong fluorescence was found in ventral

lateral and dorsal horns of cervical spi- nal cord. Moreover

the reactivity in nerve of middle or small sizes was stronger than that in large ones. Fluorescence in medulla oblongata was more intensive than in cervical spinal cord. More strong fluorescence was observed in reticular structure

some cerebral nerve nuclei

nucleus gracilis and nucleus cuneatus. Immunofluorescence reactivity in cases mentioned above was more inte- nsive in the cases of electron acupuncture alone and of operation under acupuncture anaesthesia than in the cases of normal. The reactivity was much weaker in the cases of operation without any anaesthesia. On the basis of our experimental results

we belive that acupuncture plays important roles in stimulating the formation of endogenous morphi- ne-like substances during operntion and in preventing them from excessive consumption.