Acupuncture inhibition of methamphetamine‐induced behaviors, dopamine release and hyperthermia in the nucleus accumbens: mediation of group II mGluR

Abstract

Methamphetamine (METH) increases metabolic neuronal activity in the mesolimbic dopamine (DA) system and mediates the reinforcing effect. To explore the underlying mechanism of acupuncture intervention in reducing METH-induced behaviors, we investigated the effect of acupuncture on locomotor activity, ultrasonic vocalizations, extracellular DA release in the nucleus accumbens (NAcs) using fast-scan cyclic voltammetry and alterations of brain temperature (an indicator of local brain metabolic activity) produced by METH administration. When acupuncture was applied to HT7, but not TE4, both locomotor activity and 50-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations were suppressed in METH-treated rats. Acupuncture at HT7 attenuated the enhancement of electrically stimulated DA release in the NAc of METH-treated rats. Systemic injection of METH produced a sustained increase in NAc temperature, which was reversed by the DA D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390 or acupuncture at HT7. Acupuncture inhibition of METH-induced NAc temperature was prevented by pre-treatment with a group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR2/3) antagonist EGLU into the NAc or mimicked by injection of an mGluR2/3 agonist DCG-IV into the NAc. These results suggest that acupuncture reduces extracellular DA release and metabolic neuronal activity in the NAc through activation of mGluR2/3 and suppresses METH-induced affective states and locomotor behavior.

Paired mechanical and electrical acupuncture of neurogenic spots induces opioid-mediated suppression of hypertension in rats

“…Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) emitted by rats in response to acupuncture stimulation were recorded using customized sound-attenuating chambers as previously described [17]. The chamber consisted of two boxes to minimize exterior noise (inside box: 60 × 42 × 42 cm, outside box: 68 × 50 × 51 cm).…”

Effects of Acupuncture on Behavioral Stereotypies and Brain Dopamine System in Mice as a Model of Tourette Syndrome

“…The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for TS has been confirmed by numerous clinical studies (Wu et al, 1996; Ma et al, 2006; Zhu et al, 2009; Tang et al, 2015; Yu et al, 2016; Lee, 2017), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can regulate the DA system (Bo et al, 2017; Lin et al, 2017; Kim et al, 2018; Xiao et al, 2018). DA plays an important role in the recovering effect of acupuncture on motor functions (Cabyoglu et al, 2006).…”

Peripheral Sensory Nerve Tissue but Not Connective Tissue Is Involved in the Action of Acupuncture

“…(Kim G. H. et al, 2010) reported that manual twisting is more effective than the lifting-thrusting technique in producing analgesic effects on formalin-induced pain in rats. We and others have shown that manual twisting of needles applied to HT7 acupoints suppresses addictive behaviors induced by abused drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and ethanol (Yang et al, 2010; Jin et al, 2018; Kim et al, 2018). Moreover, acupuncture at HT7 attenuates drug-induced dopamine release and metabolic neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens (Yoon et al, 2004; Jin et al, 2018) through group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (Kim et al, 2018) and modulation of GABA neuron activity in the ventral tegmental area (Yang et al, 2010).…”

“…We and others have shown that manual twisting of needles applied to HT7 acupoints suppresses addictive behaviors induced by abused drugs, including cocaine, methamphetamine, and ethanol (Yang et al, 2010; Jin et al, 2018; Kim et al, 2018). Moreover, acupuncture at HT7 attenuates drug-induced dopamine release and metabolic neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens (Yoon et al, 2004; Jin et al, 2018) through group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (Kim et al, 2018) and modulation of GABA neuron activity in the ventral tegmental area (Yang et al, 2010). While these studies provide evidence that twisting acupuncture needle manipulation produces therapeutic effects, manual acupuncture stimulation could alter its effect by affecting many vagaries, including rotation durations and angles.…”