Objective To observe the effect of manual acupuncture stimulation on changes of hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitter levels and expression of 5-hydorxytryptamine(5-HT)mRNA

dopamine(DA)mRNA and acetylcholine esterase(AChE)mRNA in methamphetamine addiction rats

so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of drug addiction.Methods SD rats were randomly divided into normal control

model and manual acupuncture groups(n=10in each group).Drug addiction model was established by i.p.of methamphetamine(5mg/kg)

once a day for 15 days.Manual acupuncture stimulation was applied to"Baihui"(GV 20)and"Dazhui"(GV 14)once daily for 10 days.The contents of hippocampal 5-HT

DA

acetylcholine(ACh)

AChE were measured by ELISA.The expressive levels of hippocampal 5-HT mRNA

DA mRNA and AChE mRNA were determined by fluorescence quantitative RT-PCR.Results In comparison with the normal control group

the contents of 5-HT

DA

ACh and AChE and the expression levels of 5-HT mRNA

DA mRNA and AChE mRNA were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.01

P<0.05).After acupuncture intervention

the levels of the above-mentioned 7indexes were uniformly and significantly down-regulated in the manual acupuncture group(P<0.01

P<0.05).Conclusion Manual acupuncture stimulation of GV 20 and GV 14 can adjust methamphetamine addiction-induced changes of some hippocampal monoamine neurotransmitters and expression levels of 5-HT

DA and AChE genes.