Acupuncture suppresses reinstatement of morphine-seeking behavior induced by a complex cue in rats

Zhao

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

et al. 2015

Self Cite

Previous studies revealed that acupuncture suppressed both morphine self-administration and morphine-seeking behavior after abstinence. Based on these results, this study examined whether acupuncture attenuated morphine-craving under a progressive ratio (PR) schedule and investigated the possible neuronal mechanism. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were trained to self-administer morphine (0.5 mg/kg) at a fixed ratio for 9 days, and rats who achieved stable infusion were switched to a PR schedule. When animals had taken no more morphine for 1 hour, the number of infusions was defined as the break point (BP). After PR training, animals that had established a stable BP received acupuncture the next day. Acupuncture was applied for 1 minute immediately before the test session. Bicuculline (1.0 mg/kg) and SCH 50911 (2.0 mg/kg) were given 30 minutes prior to acupuncture. The c-Fos levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and the nucleus accumbens (NAc) were examined. Acupuncture at SI5 reduced the BP significantly. Moreover, the effects of acupuncture were blocked by either bicuculline or SCH 50911. Immunofluorescence revealed that acupuncture at SI5 decreased c-Fos expressions in the VTA and the NAc. This study demonstrates that acupuncture at SI5 is effective for the treatment of morphine-craving and that this effect is mediated via the GABA pathway.

“…3C). These observations are consistent with our previous studies demonstrating suppressive effects of acupuncture at SI5 on morphine-seeking behavior after abstinence [16,17].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Acupuncture Suppresses Morphine Craving in Progressive Ratio Through the GABA System

Zhao

Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies

et al. 2015

Self Cite

Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine

“…These results suggest the possibility that acupuncture may reduce discrete cue-induced drug-seeking behavior by modulating dopamine release in the NAc. Also, it has been shown that acupuncture reduced morphine or cue-induced reinstatement of morphine-seeking behaviors and morphine craving in progressive ratio via activation of GABA receptors [ 109 , 110 ]. Similarly, acupuncture decreased extracellular dopamine levels in the NAc and behavioral sensitization induced by repeated morphine administration [ 111 ].…”

Section: Effect Of Acupuncture On Relapse In Drug Dependencementioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture on the Stress‐Related Drug Relapse to Seeking

Roh

Park

Jang

et al. 2018

Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disease, which causes serious social and economic problems. The most important trial for the successful treatment of drug addiction is to prevent the high rate of relapse to drug-seeking behaviors. Opponent process as a motivational theory with excessive drug seeking in the negative reinforcement of drug dependence reflects both loss of brain reward system and recruitment of brain stress system. The negative emotional state produced by brain stress system during drug withdrawal might contribute to the intense drug craving and drive drug-seeking behaviors via negative reinforcement mechanisms. Decrease in dopamine neurotransmission in the nucleus accumbens and recruitment of corticotropin-releasing factor in the extended amygdala are hypothesized to be implicated in mediating this motivated behavior. Also, a brain stress response system is hypothesized to increase drug craving and contribute to relapse to drug-seeking behavior during the preoccupation and anticipation stage of dependence caused by the exposure to stress characterized as the nonspecific responses to any demands on the body. Acupuncture has proven to be effective for reducing drug addiction and stress-related psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, acupuncture has been shown to correct reversible brain malfunctions by regulating drug addiction and stress-related neurotransmitters. Accordingly, it seems reasonable to propose that acupuncture attenuates relapse to drug-seeking behavior through inhibition of stress response. In this review, a brief description of stress in relapse to drug-seeking behavior and the effects of acupuncture were presented.

“…Acupuncture at Shenmen (HT7) significantly suppressed morphine-induced increase in locomotor activity and Fos expression in the NAc and striatum [ 45 ]. Acupuncture at Yanggu (SI5) can reduce the reinstatement of morphine-seeking behaviors by mediating the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor system [ 46 , 47 ]. See Table 6 for study details.…”

Section: Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acupuncture therapy for drug addiction

et al. 2016

Acupuncture therapy has been used to treat substance abuse. This study aims to review experimental studies examining the effects of acupuncture on addiction. Research and review articles on acupuncture treatment of substance abuse published between January 2000 and September 2014 were searched using the databases ISI Web of Science Core Collection and EBSCO’s MEDLINE Complete. Clinical trial studies on the efficacy of acupuncture therapy for substance abuse were classified according to substance (cocaine, opioid, nicotine, and alcohol), and their treatment protocols, assessments, and findings were examined. A total of 119 studies were identified, of which 85 research articles addressed the efficacy of acupuncture for treating addiction. There were substantial variations in study protocols, particularly regarding treatment duration, frequency of electroacupuncture, duration of stimulation, and choice of acupoints. Contradictory results, intergroup differences, variation in sample sizes, and acupuncture placebo effects made it difficult to evaluate acupuncture effectiveness in drug addiction treatment. This review also identified a lack of rigorous study design, such as control of confounding variables by incorporating sham controls, sufficient sample sizes, reliable assessments, and adequately replicated experiments.