Auricular acupuncture and the neurochemical indexes of convulsive activity

Abstract

Introduction Auricular acupuncture (AA) is applied in the complex treatment of convulsive syndrome. Currently there are multiple hypotheses that propose the involvement of neurochemical cerebral mechanisms in the anti-convulsive actions of AA. Purpose The study of AA’s influence on monoamine concentrations in different cerebral structures in animals with experimental convulsive activity. Material and methods The study was conducted on white rats from the Wistar line (n=100) where the syndrome of tabagic abstinence was modelled, and the cerebral convulsive activity was monitored through EEG. Monoamines were determined via the CLIR method in the hypothalamus, midbrain and the spinal bulb. The ear acupuncture points with a decreased skin electrical resistance were stimulated. Results After performing AA a noradrenaline (NA) drop (compared to initial indexes), was registered in the: hypothalamus by 32% (p<0,01); midbrain by 49% (p<0,001) and the spinal bulb by 27% (p<0,001). Dopamine (DA) levels had risen in the hypothalamus by 49% (p<0,001) and in the spinal bulb by 55% (p<0,001). Serotonin (5-HT) had no significant changes in the studied cerebral structures (p>0,05). After AA stimulation, a tendency to normalize the EEG picture was registered, with a significant reduction of the paroxysmal index (p<0,05). Conclusions In the experimental animals, AA had reduced convulsive activity in parallel with the differentiated activity of the neurochemical indexes: NA – decreased, DA – increased, 5-HT – no significant changes.