本实验室以往研究表明

下丘脑弓状核参与各种镇痛)并认为可能与胞体密集于下丘脑弓状核内的β-内啡肽(β-EP)能神经元活动有关。本实验对新生大鼠腹腔注射谷氨酸钠(Monosodium Glu-tamate

MSG)破坏弓状核神经元

并采用免疫细胞化学技术对β-EP 细胞进行By lesioning the neurons in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (HAN) With monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration to neonatal male rats and using immunocytochemical technique to count the β-endorphin(β-EP)-containing neurons in the arcuate nucleus

the relationship of β-EP-containing neurons in the arcuate nucleus with acupuncture analgesia was studied.The expe- riments were performed on MSG-treated adult rats.It is found that when electroacupuncture was performed on“Renzhong”and“Chengjiang”acupoints for 30 min

the analgesic effect of acupuncture in the MSG-treated group was significantly lower than those of the control group(p<0.01).In the meantime

the β-EP-immunor(?)active neurons in HAN in MSG-treated group reduced by 59.3%.The results suggest that relationship might exist between the acupuncture analgesia and β-EP-containing neurons in the rat HAN.