中缝背核(NRD)在疼痛调节和针刺镇痛过程中起重要作用

并参与内分泌、情感、体温、饮食活动和睡眠与觉醒周期等多种生理功能的调节。电解损毀NRD可明显减弱电针的镇痛效果Nucleus Raphe Dorsalis (NRD) plnye an important role in acupuncture analgesia. The aim of this investigation is to determine the effects of electro- acupuncture (EA) analgesia on the ultrastructure of NRD. 12 wistar rats (220-250g) were divided into control and experiment groups. Pain threshold was determined by potassium iontophoretic dolorimetry. EA was applied at bilateral "Zusanli" points. The effective aealgesia animals and control animals were sacrificed and the NRD were taken out for electron microscopic observation. In EA analgesia groups

NRD was observed the number of the clear round vesicle-containing terminals and clear round vesicles with the granular vesiclecontaining terminals showed a significant decrease and sometimes vesicles were emptied. The area of presynaptic terminals wae expanded. Some synaptic gaps appeared narrow profiles. Part of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in neuron and neurogliocytes appeared the expanded profiles. These ultrastructural change of the NRD in EA analgesia might indica tet he neuronsa nd neurogliocytes were in active functional state.