To observe the effects of electroacupuncture on pain threshold of laboring rats and the expression of norepinephrine transporter and α2 adrenergic receptor in the central nervous system to determine the mechanism of the analgesic effect of labor. 120 pregnant rats were divided into 6 groups: a control group, 4 electroacupuncture groups, and a meperidine group. After interventions, the warm water tail-flick test was used to observe pain threshold. NE levels in serum, NET, and α2AR mRNA and protein expression levels in the central nervous system were measured. No difference in pain threshold was observed between the 6 groups before intervention. After intervention, increased pain thresholds were observed in all groups except the control group with a higher threshold seen in the electroacupuncture groups. Serum NE levels decreased in the electroacupuncture and MP groups. Increases in NET and α2AR expression in the cerebral cortex and decreases in enlarged segments of the spinal cord were seen. Acupuncture increases uptake of NE via cerebral NET and decreases its uptake by spinal NET. The levels of α2AR are also increased and decreased, respectively, in both tissues. This results in a decrease in systemic NE levels and may be the mechanism for its analgesic effects.
These data suggest that the modulation of placental transport of L-arginine by glucose and insulin could contribute to the fetal macrosomia observed in diabetic mothers.
This short review is devoted to considerations of acute regulation rather than longerterm effects achieved through dietary manipulation or massive and prolonged hormone administration in t h o. Adipose-tissue fatty acid metabolism is conveniently divided into: assimilation of fatty acids from circulating lipoproteins; synthesis de novo of fatty acids, mainly from carbohydrate; assembly of triacylglycerol and phospholipids (esterification); fatty acid oxidation and triacylglycerol degradation (lipolysis). All of these processes can be acutely influenced by hormones in some way. In addition, one should also consider the roles of long-chain fatty acids or their derivatives as possible regulators of metabolism. Lipolysis We probably have reasonable knowledge of some of the mechanisms underlying this process. The hormone-sensitive lipase, which may encompass triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, monoacylglycerol and cholesterol ester hydrolase activities in the same enzyme (Khoo et al., 1976), is rapidly activated on treatment of adipose tissues with a range of hormones. Catecholamines, glucagon and adrenocorticotropin, with species variations in potency, appear to be the main lipolytic agents. It is likely that their actions are transmitted via adenylate cyclase activation, elevation in cell cyclic AMP and protein kinase activation followed, possibly, by phosphorylation of a lipase component. of labelled lipids from the liver was minimal), local hyperlipogenesis occurred in adipose tissue from obese mice; the labelling of glyceride fatty acids was increased by 55%, whereas that of glyceride glycerol was not modified.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.