Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Serotonin involvement in the electroacupuncture- and moxibustion-induced gastric emptying in rats

Full text
Author(s):
Sugai, Gisele C. M. ; Freire, Anaflávia de O. ; Tabosa, Angela ; Yamamura, Ysao ; Tufik, Sérgio ; Mello, Luiz Eugênio A. M. [6]
Total Authors: 6
Document type: Journal article
Source: Physiology & Behavior; v. 82, n. 5, p. 855-861, Oct. 2004.
Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology
Abstract

Electroacupuncture (EA) as well as moxibustion stimulation has been reported to produce an excitatory effect on the gastrointestinal motility of the rat. Serotonergic neurons of the mioenteric and submucous plexus are major participants in the gastrointestinal physiology. Here, we compared the outcomes of the stimulation of a specific set of acupoints with either acupuncture or moxibustion on the gastrointestinal motility and the role of serotonin (5-HT) in this effect. To analyze the role of 5-HT on the gastrointestinal motility of the rat, we studied the flow of 25 glass beads administered to the stomach, after treatment of the animals with a serotonin inhibitor (para-chlorophenylalanine [pCPA]). Acupuncture stimulation was performed on acupoints St-36 (Zusanli) and Sp-6 (Sanyinjiao), with electrical stimulation, or on acupoints Ren-10 (Xiawan), Ren-12 (Zhongwan) and St-25 (Tianshu), with moxibustion. Animals subjected to sham stimulation were used as controls in addition to naive, unstimulated animals. Stimulation of the hind limb (St-36 and Sp-6) and abdominal (Ren-10, Ren-12, St-25) acupoints resulted in effective gastric emptying, as compared with sham-stimulated animals. Pretreatment of animals with pCPA abolished either the response provided by acupuncture stimulation in animal groups subjected to hind limb acupoints or the response provided by moxibustion stimulation in abdominal acupoints. Our data suggest that moxibustion in the abdominal points and EA in the hind limb require an intact serotonergic pathway. In addition, we suggest that this involvement of serotonin is a general feature of the mediated effects of acupuncture on gastric emptying of the rat. (AU)