Download PDF
Deutsche Zeitschrift für Akupunktur 2002; 45(2): 124-127
DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-32464
Forum

Karl F. Haug Verlag in MVS Medizinverlage Stuttgart GmbH & Co. KG

Mechanisms of Acupuncture Analgesia Produced by Low - Frequency Electrical Stimulation of Acupuncture Points

Mechanismen der Akupunktur - Analgesie als Effekt einer niederfrequenten elektronischen Stimulation von AkupunkturpunktenChifuyu Takeshige
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
25 June 2002 (online)

    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Acupuncture analgesia is produced by activation of the descending pain inhibitory system (DPIS) through a specific pathway connected to the acupoints while still allowing maintenance of consciousness. The analgesia inhibitory system (AIS), in contrast, is activated by stimulation of acupoints or non-acupoints, leading to a nonspecific inhibition of different interconnected pathways. Therefore, acupoints and non-acupoints can be distinguished by their anatomically distinct brain pathways. The after-effects of AA might be produced by the actions of an increased amount of beta-endorphin released from the pituitary gland on components of the AA-producing pathway.

Zusammenfassung

Die Akupunktur-Analgesie basiert auf der Aktivierung des Systems der absteigenden Schmerzhemmung, hervorgerufen über spezifische Bahnen mit den Akupunkturpunkten, während gleichzeitig das Bewusstsein erhalten bleibt. Diffuse Schmerzhemmung hingegen kann durch Aktivierung von Akupunkturpunkten oder Nicht-Akupunkturpunkten aktiviert werden. Dies führt zu einer unspezifischen Hemmung vernetzter Bahnen. Akupunkturpunkte und Nicht-Akupunkturpunkte können somit durch ihre unterschiedlichen Wege im Gehirn erkannt werden. Langanhaltende Wirkungen der Akupunktur-Analgesie könnten im Zusammenhang mit einer Ausschüttung von Beta-Endorphinen aus der Hypophyse und deren Wirkung auf spezifische Nervenbahnen erklärt werden.

References

  • 01 Atweh S. F., Kuhar M. J.. Autoradiographic localization of opiate receptors in rat brain: the brainstem.  Brain Res.. 129 1997;  1-12
    Google Scholar
  • 02 Arai T., Guo S. Y., Takeshige C.. Cholecystokinin in the analgesia inhibitory system and its antagonists in this system.  J. Showa Med. Assoc.. 52 1992;  58-67
    Google Scholar
  • 03 Huang S. F., Luo C. P., Takeshige C.. Identity of a central analgesia producing mechanism in Ho-ku point stimulation with that in Tsusanli point stimulation.  J. Showa Med. Assoc.. 48 1998;  485-492
    Google Scholar
  • 04 Lung C. H., Sun A. C., Tsao C. J., Chang Y. L., Fan L.. An observation of the humoral factor in acupuncture analgesia in rats.  Amer. J. Chin. Med.. 2 1974;  203-205
    Google Scholar
  • 05 Malizia E., Andreucci G., Paolucci D., Grescenzi F., Fabbri A., Fraioli F.. Electroacupuncture and peripheral β-endorphin and ACTH levels.  Lancet. 1979;  535-536
    Google Scholar
  • 06 Pert C. B., Snyder S. H.. Opiate receptor: demonstration in nervous tissue.  Science. 179 1973;  1011-1014
    Google Scholar
  • 07 Sato T., Hishida F., Luo C. P., Tsuchiya M., Takeshige C.. Relations of adrenal gland and sodium ions in production of acupuncture and non-acupuncture points stimulation-produced analgesia.  J. Showa Med. Assoc.. 49 1989;  286-294
    Google Scholar
  • 08 Sato T., Takeshige C., Shimizu S.. Morphine analgesia mediated by activation of the acupuncture-analgesia-producing system.  Acupunct. Electro-Ther. Res.. 16 1991;  13-26
    Google Scholar
  • 09 Sjolund B., Terenius L., Erikson M.. Increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of endorphins after electro-acupuncture.  Acta Physiol. Scand.. 100 1977;  382-384
    Google Scholar
  • 10 Snyder S. H.. Opiate receptor in normal and drug altered brain function.  Nature. 257 1955;  185-189
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Takeshige C.. Mechanism of acupuncture analgesia based on animal experiments. In: Pomeranz, B.; Stux, G. (eds.): Scientific Bases of Acupuncture. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg 1990
    Google Scholar
  • 12 Takeshige C.. Mechanism of acupuncture analgesia (AA) caused by low frequency stimulation of the acupuncture point based on animal experiments, Part 1: Acupuncture afferent and efferent pathways and the nature of AA.  Acupunct. Scient. Int. J.. 1 1990;  75-88
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Takeshige C., Sato T., Komugi H.. Role of peri-aqueductal central gray in acupuncture analgesia.  Acupunct. Electro-Ther. Res.. 5 1980;  323-337
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Takeshige C.. Differentiation between acupuncture and non-acupuncture points by association with analgesia inhibitory system.  Acupunct. Electro-Ther. Res.. 10 1985;  195-203
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Takeshige C.. Inhibition associated with acupuncture analgesia: inactivation of hypersensitive neurons. Charlazonits, N.; Gola, M.: (eds.) Alan R. Liss, Inc. 1987: 255-262
    Google Scholar
  • 16 Takeshige C., Kamada Y., Hisamatu T.. Commonly responsive neurons in the periaqueductal gray matter and midbrain reticular formation of rabbits to acupuncture stimulation, inversion, pressure on body parts and morphine.  Acupunct. Electro-Ther. Res.. 6 1981;  57-74
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Takeshige C., Kobori M., Hishida F., Luo C. P., Usamai S.. Analgesia inhibitory system involvement in nonacupuncture point-stimulation-produced analgesia.  Brain Res. Bull.. 28 1992;  379-391
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Takeshige C., Luo C. P., Hishida F., Igarashi O.. Differentiation of acupuncture and non-acupuncture points by difference of associated opioids in the spinal cord in production of analgesia by acupuncture and non-acupuncture point stimulation, and relations between sodium and those opioids.  Acupunct. Electro-Ther. Res.. 15 1990;  193-209
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Takeshige C., Luo C. P., Kamada Y., Oka K., Murai M., Hisamatu T.. Relation between midbrain neurons (Periqueductal central gray and midbrain reticular formation) and acupuncture analgesia, animal hypnosis.  In: Bonica, J. et al. (eds.)  Advances Pain Res. Ther.. 3 1979;  615-621
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Takeshige C., Mera H., Hisamatu T., Tanaka M., Hishida F.. Inhibition of the analgesia inhibitory system by D-phenylalanine and proglumide.  Brain Res. Bull.. 26 1991;  385-391
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Takeshige C., Murai M., Tanaka M., Hachisu M.. Parallel individual variations in effectiveness of acupuncture, morphine analgesia, and dorsal PAG-SPA and their abolition by D-phenylalanine.  In: Bonica, J. et al. (eds.).  Adv. Pain Res. Ther.. 5 1983;  563-569
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Takeshige C., Nakanura A., Asamoto S., Arai T.. Positive feedback action of pituitary β-endorphin on acupuncture analgesia afferent pathway.  Brain Res. Bull.. 29 1992;  37-44
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Takeshige C., Oka K., Mizuno T., Hisamatu T., Luo C. P., Kobori M., Mera H., Fang T. Q.. The acupuncture point and its connecting central pathway for producing acupuncture analgesia.  Brain Res. Bull.. 30 1993;  53-67
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Takeshige C., Sato T., Mera T., Hisamitsu T., Fang T. Q.. Descending pain inhibitory system involved in acupuncture analgesia.  Brain Res. Bull.. 29 1992;  617-634
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Takeshige C., Tsutiya M., Guo S. Y., Sato T.. Dopaminergic transmission in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus to produce acupuncture analgesia in correlation with the pituitary gland.  Brain Res. Bull.. 26 1991;  113-122
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Takeshige C., Tsutiya M., Zhao W., Guo S.. Analgesia produced by pituitary ACTH and dopaminergic transmission in the arcuate.  Brain Res. Bull.. 26 1991;  779-788
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Takeshige C., Tanaka M., Sato T., Hishida F.. Mechanism of individual variation in effectiveness of acupuncture analgesia based on animal experiments.  Eur. J. Pain. 11 1990;  109-113
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 Takeshige C., Zhao W. H., Guo S. Y.. Convergence from the preoptic area and arcuate nucleus to the median eminence in acupuncture and non-acupuncture point stimulation analgesia.  Brain Res. Bull.. 26 1991;  771-778
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Takeshige C., Luo C. P., Kamada Y.. Modulation of EGG and unit discharges of deep structure of brain during acupunctureal stimulation and by hypnosis of rabbits.  In: Bonica, J.J.; Albe-Fressard, D. (ed.)  Adv. Pain Res. Ther. Raven Press. 1 1976;  781-785
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Toyoda I., Takeshige C.. Changes in characteristics of analgesia produced by difference in duration of stimulation of acupuncture points.  J. Showa Med. Assoc.. 52 1992;  1-7
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Xu M., Aiuchi T., Nakaya K., Arakawa H., Maeda M., Tsuji A., Kato T., Takeshige C., Nakamura Y.. Effect of low-frequency electric stimulation on in vivo release of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in medial thalamus of conscious rat.  Neurosci. Let.. 118 1990;  205-207
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar