由延髓下端到中脑头端、脑干中缝两旁

有相对集中的中缝核。人、猫、兔和鼠的中缝核

由尾侧向头端均可分成下述八个核团:中缝隐核、中缝苍白核、中缝大核、中缝桥脑核、中央上核、中缝背核、线形中核和线形上核。在中枢神经内

5-羟色胺(5-HT)神经元主要分布在中缝核及其邻近的网状结构内。中缝核的联系相当广泛

共机能是多方面的。近来研究表明

它在针刺镇痛中起重要作用。 (一)损毁或电刺激中缝核对针刺镇痛的影响无论以电针刺激大鼠尾部引起嘶叫反应测痛

还是以刺激大鼠牙髓诱发的皮层This Paper reviews the main results of a few recent years' study on the relationship between raphe nuclei and acupuncture analgesia. 1. Acupuncture analgesia was significantly reduced after lesion of r- aphe nuclei

but was increased by stimulation of raphe nuclei. Spontane- ous discharges of raphe nuclei neurons were activated

but the innociceptive responses were inhibited by acupuncture. The results show that raphe nuclei play an important role in acupuncture analgesia. 2. Metabolisms of 5-HT and NE in raphe nuclei produced obvious c- hanges in acupuncture analgesia. Also

acupuncture analgesia was inhibit- ed by microinjectin of 5

6-DHT or naloxone into raphe nuclei. Therefor- e

it is suggested that 5-HT

OLS and NE etc. in raphe nuclei may be parts of the substanes involied in acupuncture analgesia. 3. In acupuncture analgesia

activities of raphe nuclei were regulated by some hiqher analgesic structures of the brain

for example

N. cauda- te

N.accumbens and PAG etc. In addition

nucleus raphe magnus possibly performed descending inhibitoy effect on pain transmission in the spinal cord; Pain reactivity could be regulated by nucleus raphe dorsalis and nu- cleus raphe medianus. Further studies on interactions between neurochemical substances wit- hin raphe nuclei and between raphe nuclei and other central analgese stru- ctures of the brain in acupuncture analgesia are still necessary.