在针刺镇痛的作用中

不少资料证明与中枢神经化学介质有一定关系。究竟那些神经介质

它们各自起什么作用

这是一个极为复杂的过程。我们只是企图从中枢神经系统不同区域内乙酰胆碱(ACh)的变化来探讨。一般的组织化学方法至今还不能直接显示乙酰胆碱。但脑内有些区域乙酰胆碱(ACh)、乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)、胆碱乙酰化酶(ChAT)的含量多少与活性的高低大体是一致的。所以我们在电针刺激的条From the point of view that AChE and ChE are related to neurotra- nsmitters

the histochemical changes of these enzymes in different areas of the CNS of rat were taken as the experimental index to investigate the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia. 223 rats(male 115

female 108)weighing 115 to 220 grams were divided into 3 groups:Group 1

SGS studies on subtantia gelatinosa of spinal cord. Group 2

TST on nucleus tra(?)tus spinalis n.trigemini and group 3

LC on locus caeruleus.Each group was divided into three subgroups.A pain-sti- mulation

a pain-stimulation plus acupuncture and a control subgroup. Basic pain thresholds were measured.The loci of pain-application were as follows:In the group SGS

at the right third intercostal skin

in group TST

at the left upper lip

and in group LC

a“mimetic abdominal opera- tion”was performed as in pain-stimulation.Different points used for acupuncture were Zusanli Neiguan;Hegu and Neiguan

Zusanli

Shangjuxu and Huatuo Jiagi“Qiekoupang”respectively.At the same time

electromyo- graphic changes in the M.rectus abdominis were observed as an additional experimental index. The Karnovsky-Root's method with some modifications according to EL-Badawi-Schenk's technique was used for demonstration of AChE and ChE. The experimental results showed that some regularities seemed to exsist concerning the changes of activity of AChE and ChE under different con- ditions of acupuncture analgesia.There was an obvious decrease of AChE and ChE activity in the substantia gelatinosa as well as the nucleustractus spinal n.trigemini.However

ACHE activity in locus caeruleus increased after electroacupuncture. Pain stimulation alone resuted in just the con Contrary trary to the above data(P<0.01). The evidence mentioned above suggests that the AChE activity in dif- ferent areas of the rat brain may respond to the process of acupuncture and the corresponding cholinergic neurones in CNS might playa certain role in the analgesic and regulatory effects of acupuncture anesthesia.