Abstract
Purpose Acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) is increasingly being accepted as a viable therapy in the United States and may serve as an alternative treatment to drug therapy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. We have demonstrated that EA acts through an opioid mechanism in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) to inhibit sympathoexcitatory reflexes induced by gastric distention. Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), a gastrointestinal peptide hormone, is present throughout the central nervous system and mediates pain and anxiety. CCK-8 interacts with CCK1 and CCK2 receptors. The present study investigated the hypothesis that CCK-8 in the rVLM limits the modulatory action of EA effect on sympathoexcitatory responses.
Highlights
Acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) is increasingly being accepted as a viable therapy in the United States and may serve as an alternative treatment to drug therapy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension
We have demonstrated that EA acts through an opioid mechanism in the rostral ventrolateral medulla to inhibit sympathoexcitatory reflexes induced by gastric distention
These data suggest that CCK-8 through its action on CCK1 receptors limits the action of EA in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) of rats in modulating reflex hypertension. (Supported by AHA 10POST4190125, NIH HL-63313 and HL-072125)
Summary
Cholecystokinin antagonizes opioid function during electroacupuncture inhibitory effect on pressor reflex in rats. From International Research Congress on Integrative Medicine and Health 2012 Portland, Oregon, USA. Purpose Acupuncture or electroacupuncture (EA) is increasingly being accepted as a viable therapy in the United States and may serve as an alternative treatment to drug therapy in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. We have demonstrated that EA acts through an opioid mechanism in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM) to inhibit sympathoexcitatory reflexes induced by gastric distention. Cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), a gastrointestinal peptide hormone, is present throughout the central nervous system and mediates pain and anxiety. CCK-8 interacts with CCK1 and CCK2 receptors. The present study investigated the hypothesis that CCK-8 in the rVLM limits the modulatory action of EA effect on sympathoexcitatory responses
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