近年来的一些实验提示

尾核与痛觉及针刺镇痛作用有关。刺激尾核可以提高痛阈

可以加强电针效应

而损毁尾核可使电针效应有不同程度的减弱。对晚期癌肿引起恶痛用药物治疗效果不满意的病例

在尾核头部埋藏电极

刺激尾核

大部分病例可得到不同程度的镇痛效果。尾核内阿片样肽的含量很高

阿片样肽具有镇痛作用

这种作用可被纳洛酮部分阻断。无机离子在针刺镇痛中的作用

正逐渐被人们重视。根据目前的资料

尾核中的阿片样肽

主要是脑啡肽以及有关的六The quantities of opioid peptides

Cu

(2+)

and Zn(2+) and Zn

(2+)

were determined be- fore and after acupuncture in caudate nucleus perfusate. The cannula was sterotaxically implanted into caudate nucleus according to the atlas of Sawyer's (A_4

H_(4.5)

L_3

or A_2

H_(3.5)

L_3). The opioid peptides in the perfusate was purified through a column of Amberlite XAD-2 and deter- mined quantitatively by radioreceptorassay. Cu(2+) were determined be- fore and after acupuncture in caudate nucleus perfusate. The cannula was sterotaxically implanted into caudate nucleus according to the atlas of Sawyer's (A_4

H_(4.5)

L_3

or A_2

H_(3.5)

L_3). The opioid peptides in the perfusate was purified through a column of Amberlite XAD-2 and deter- mined quantitatively by radioreceptorassay. Cu

(2+)

and Zn(2+) and Zn

(2+)

were determined by anodic stripping voltammetry. It was found that the quantities of opioid peptides in the anterior portion (A_4 or A_5) were increased significantly about 10.98±2.38% (N=10

P

<

0.002) after acupuncture and the increment was parallel to the rise of pain threshold; while in the posterior portion (A_1 or A_2) there was no change. After acupuncture for 30 minutes

the quantity of Zn(2+) were determined by anodic stripping voltammetry. It was found that the quantities of opioid peptides in the anterior portion (A_4 or A_5) were increased significantly about 10.98±2.38% (N=10

P

<

0.002) after acupuncture and the increment was parallel to the rise of pain threshold; while in the posterior portion (A_1 or A_2) there was no change. After acupuncture for 30 minutes

the quantity of Zn

(2+)

was increased significantly about 0.17±0.06 μg/ml (N=10

P

<

0.02) and the increment was parallel to the rise of pain threshold. The quantity of Cu(2+)was increased significantly about 0.17±0.06 μg/ml (N=10

P

<

0.02) and the increment was parallel to the rise of pain threshold. The quantity of Cu

(2+)

was decre- ased significantly about 0.37±0.12 μg/ml (N=10

p

<

0.01). This shows that the analgesic effect of acupuncture is related to opioid peptides

Cu(2+) was decre- ased significantly about 0.37±0.12 μg/ml (N=10

p

<

0.01). This shows that the analgesic effect of acupuncture is related to opioid peptides

Cu

(2+)

and Zn(2+) and Zn

(2+)

in the anterior portion.