Abstract
Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that sleep and epilepsy reciprocally affect each other. The effects of acupuncture of Feng-Chi (GB20) acupoints on epilepsy suppression and insomnia treatment have been documented in the ancient Chinese literature, Lingshu Jing. However, the action of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints on epilepsy- induced sleep disruptions has not been investigated. This current study was designed to elucidate the effect of EA stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints in the epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions. Administration of pilocarpine into the left central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) induced the focal epilepsy in rats. Rats received a 30-min 100 Hz EA stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints per day, beginning at 30 min before the dark period and performing in three consecutive days. Electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep- wake activity were recorded and lasted for 24-h. These recording were acquired before and after the manipulations. The broad-spectrum opioid receptor antagonist (naloxone), mu-receptor antagonist (naloxonazine), delta-receptor antagonist (naltrindole) and kappa-receptor antagonist (nor-binaltorphimine) were administered directly into the CeA to elucidate the involvement of CeA opioid receptors in the EA effect. Administration of pilocarpine into the CeA induced focal epilepsy and decreased both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep. High-frequency (100 Hz) EA stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints further deteriorated epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions. The EA-induced exacerbation of sleep disruptions was blocked by microinjection of naloxone, naloxonazine, nor- binaltorphimine or natrindole into the CeA. This study suggests that high-frequency (100 Hz) EA stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints exhibits no benefit of improving epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions; in contrast, EA further deteriorated the sleep disturbances. In addition, the opioid receptors in the CeA mediated EA-induced exacerbation of sleep disruptions in rats with focal epilepsy. This work was supported by National Science Council grant NSC99–2320-B-002–026-MY3. We thank Mr. Yi-Fong Tsai¡‘ ∣ s technical assistance in this project.
Highlights
Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that sleep and epilepsy reciprocally affect each other
We further compared the values obtained from rats received 100 Hz EA of Feng-Chi acupoints with that acquired from undisturbed baseline during the hours of 5-12 of the dark period, and found there was no statistically significant changes in both NREM sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (Figure 2B & 2E)
There was no change, except that the sleep suppression caused by ketamine during the first 4-h postadministration, in the sleep-wake activity when rats received the sham EA stimulation, which is consistent with our previous results [11,30]
Summary
Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that sleep and epilepsy reciprocally affect each other. This study was designed to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints on sleep disruptions in rats with focal epilepsy. Previous studies have demonstrated that EA stimulation of bilateral Anmian (EX17) acupoints enhances sleep through the activation of vagus nerve, which subsequently activates opioid receptors in the nucleus of tractus solitarius (NTS) [10,11]. Stimulation of Feng-Chi acupoints may activate vagus nerve and subsequently modify the opioid receptors in the amygdala to achieve its effect in the sleep-wake regulation. This current study was designed to elucidate the effect of highfrequency (100 Hz) EA stimulation of Feng-Chi acupoints in the sleep alterations induced by the amygdaloid focal epilepsy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
