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Biomedical subjects

R L Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to R L Zhang.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Administration of a competitive NMDA antagonist MDL-100,453 reduces infarct size after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat.

The competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonist MDL-100,453 has been shown to attenuate ischemic cell damage when administered after permanent focal cerebral ischemia. The aim of the present study was to measure the dose-response of cerebral infarcted volume to the agent administered 30 min after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and to test whether short-term infusion of this drug reduces ischemic cell damage. Thirty-five Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: low dose group, a bolus of 12.4 mg/kg MDL-100,453 followed by infusion of 31.7 mg/kg/h MDL-100,453; middle and high dose groups, bolus and infusion doses increased to 24.8 mg/kg, 63.3 mg/kg/h and 49.6 mg/kg, 126.7 mg/kg/h, respectively; and control group, saline used for bolus and infusion. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) was induced by insertion of intraluminal suture. The infusion was accomplished by a microprocessor controlled pump connected to a jugular vein, which delivered drug or saline over a period of 9 h. Infarct volume was calculated using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining 24 h after MCAO. The infarct volumes were significantly reduced in both middle (46%) and high (52%) dose groups compared with the saline group (p < 0.05). No reduction of infarct volume was found in the low dose group. A statistically significant (p < 0.05), but poor inverse correlation existed between the average blood level of MDL-100,453 and infarct volume. We demonstrated that a short-term (9 h) intravenous administration of an appropriate dose of MDL-100,453 beginning 30 min after MCAO significantly reduces ischemic lesion volume at 24 h after onset of permanent focal cerebral ischemia.

Animals↗

Antibodies against adhesion molecules reduce apoptosis after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rat brain.

We tested the hypothesis that treatment of transient focal cerebral ischemia in rat with antibodies directed against adhesion molecules reduces apoptosis. Rats (n = 31) were subjected to 2 h of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion induced by intraluminal insertion of a nylon monofilament into the internal carotid artery. Upon reperfusion, animals were treated with monoclonal antibodies directed against intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1) (n = 8) or integrin CD11b/CD18 (n = 10), or administered IgG1 as a control (n = 13). At 48 h after ischemia, animals were killed and the brains analyzed for ischemic cell damage, using hematoxylin and eosin (H/E); apoptosis, using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) method; and inflammatory cells, using immunohistochemistry with an anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) antibody. Data revealed a significant reduction in the volume of infarction (p < 0.01) and a decline in the absolute (p < 0.001), and normalized (to the ischemic areas, p < 0.05) numbers of apoptotic cells in both animals treated with anti-ICAM-1 and anti-CD11b antibodies compared to control animals. The numbers of immunoreactive MPO cells were also reduced in the treatment groups compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). These data suggest that treatment with anti-adhesion molecule antibodies selectively reduce apoptosis, and that a contributing factor to the beneficial effect of antibody treatment for reducing ischemic cell damage may be a reduction in numbers of apoptotic cells.

Animals↗

E-selectin in focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion in the rat.

The selectin family of glycoproteins facilitates the early phase of polymorphonuclear leukocyte adhesion to the endothelial cell and, thus, may promote ischemic cell damage. To evaluate E-selectin in the pathogenesis of focal cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury, we cloned rat E-selectin cDNA and measured the temporal profiles E-selectin mRNA (Northern blot) and protein (immunohistochemistry) during (1 h of ischemia) and after (up to 1 week) transient (2 h) middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in the male Wistar rat. We also tested the effect on these rats of administration of CY-1503, an analog of sialyl Lewis(x) (SLe(x)), on ischemia cell damage. mRNA for E-selectin was first detected in the ischemic hemisphere at 2 h of reperfusion and persisted to 46 h of reperfusion. E-selectin (protein) was localized to microvessels within the ischemic lesion at 0 h of reperfusion and persisted to 70 h of reperfusion. Treatment of the ischemic animals with CY-1503 (50 mg/kg) (n = 8) significantly reduced infarct volume by 42% (p < 0.05) and significantly reduced myeloperoxidase immunoreactive cells in the ischemic lesion by 60% (p < 0.05). These findings provide the first direct evidence for the involvement of E-selectin in transient MCA occlusion in rats and suggest that the E-selectin may facilitate neutrophil adhesion and subsequent cerebral ischemic cell damage.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Synthetic peptide derived from the Bordetella pertussis bacterium reduces infarct volume after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.

We explored the therapeutic potential of a peptide (F20) derived from the filamentous hemagglutinin of Bordetella pertussis in a model of ischemic cell injury after transient (2 hours) middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in the rat. Animals were divided into two groups-(1) F20 peptide group: rats (n = 11) were subjected to 2 hours of transient MCA occlusion, and F20 peptide was administered intravenously (50 nmol) at 0 hours of reperfusion and intraperitoneally (150 nmol/dose) at 2, 4, 6, 8, 22, and 30 hours of reperfusion; (2) control group: rats (n = 10) were administered peptide F23 (a scrambled version of peptide F20) with the same experimental protocol as the F20 peptide group. Forty-six hours after reperfusion, animals were sacrificed, and brain tissue was stained with triphenyltetrazolium chloride for evaluation of tissue damage. To measure neutrophil numbers in ischemic tissue, myeloperoxidase (MPO) immunostaining was performed on a coronal cerebral section in each animal. There was a significant reduction of ischemic infarct volume (36%, p < 0.05) in the F20 group of animals compared with the F23 group. The area of the ischemic lesion was highly correlated with the numbers of the immunoreactive MPO cells (r = 0.78, p < 0.001). The data demonstrate that the F20 peptide significantly reduces infarct volume and intraparenchymal neutrophil numbers after transient MCA occlusion.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗

Postischemic treatment (2-4 h) with anti-CD11b and anti-CD18 monoclonal antibodies are neuroprotective after transient (2 h) focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

We investigated the effects of F(ab')2 fragments of anti-CD11b and anti-CD18 monoclonal antibodies on ischemic cell damage in the rat when administered upon reperfusion and at 2 h of reperfusion after transient (2 h) middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. 2 h of MCA occlusion was induced by intraluminal insertion of a monofilament. The following groups of animals were investigated. Anti-CD11b groups (n = 15): an intact anti-CD11b antibody (1B6c) and an anti-CD11b F(ab')2 fragment of 1B6c were infused upon reperfusion (4 mg/kg i.v.). Anti-CD18 group (n = 8): an anti-CD18 F(ab')2 fragment of CL26 was infused upon reperfusion (2 mg/kg i.v.), and at 22 h of reperfusion (1 mg/kg i.v.). Anti-CD11b delayed group (n = 9): an anti-CD11b F(ab')2 fragment of 1B6c was infused at 2 h of reperfusion (4 mg/kg i.v.), and at 22 h after reperfusion (2 mg/kg i.v.). Control groups (n = 18): an isotype-matched control antibody (mouse IgG1) was administered: (a) upon reperfusion (n = 13), and (b) at 2 h and 22 h of reperfusion (n = 5). Rats were sacrificed at 7 days of reperfusion. In a separate population of rats subjected to 2 h of MCA occlusion (n = 9), brain myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was measured at 46 h of reperfusion. The vehicle groups had infarct volumes of 35.21 +/- 2.82% to 41.39 +/- 2.73% of the contralateral hemisphere, respectively. Infarct volume was significantly reduced after treatment with: the intact anti-CD11b antibody upon reperfusion (19.0 +/- 6.6%) (P < 0.05), the fragments of mAbs of anti-CD11b administered upon reperfusion (19.7 +/- 2.7%) (P < 0.05), and at 2 h of reperfusion (22.2 +/- 4.8%) (P < 0.05), and anti-CD18 administered upon reperfusion (20.4 +/- 4.8%) (P < 0.05). Anti-CD11b treatment significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the increase of MPO activity in the ischemic hemisphere. Our data demonstrate that anti-CD11b and anti-CD18 mAb fragments significantly reduce infarct volume and inhibit the increase of MPO activity in the ischemic lesion; administration of anti-CD11b mAb fragment even at 2 h of reperfusion significantly reduces infarct volume. These data support importance of the beta 2 integrin CD11b/CD18 in ischemia/reperfusion injury and indicate that the therapeutic window for intervention to reduce ischemic cell damage in this model is at least 4 h from the onset of MCA occlusion.

Animals↗

The temporal profiles of ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression after transient MCA occlusion in the rat.

Leukocytes may contribute to ischemic cell damage. ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells facilitates the migration of leukocytes into tissue. Therefore, we measured the temporal profiles of ICAM-1 mRNA and protein in rat brain after transient (1 or 2 h) of middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Male Wistar rats (n = 86) were subjected to 1 or 2 h MCA of occlusion, or 2 h of MCA occlusion followed by reperfusion for a variety of durations ranging from 1 h to 1 week. 10 additional control animals were employed. ICAM-1 mRNA and protein were measured during ischemia and reperfusion, and immunohistochemical methods were used to identify specific cell types expressing ICAM-1. ICAM-1 mRNA was detected 1 h after the onset of ischemia. mRNA maximized at 10 h of reperfusion and persisted out to 1 week of reperfusion. ICAM-1 significantly increased in microvascular endothelial cells at 2 h of reperfusion, maximized at 46 h and persisted out to 1 week of reperfusion (P < 0.05). ICAM-1 mRNA and protein are present in ischemic brain early after the onset of ischemia and reperfusion, respectively. These data provide support for the role of ICAM-1 in mediating leukocyte-endothelial adhesion after transient MCA occlusion in the rat.

Animals↗

Expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein in areas of focal cerebral ischemia accompanies neuronal expression of 72-kDa heat shock protein.

We examined the astrocytic GFAP and neuronal HSP-72 responses to transient middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in the rat. Three groups of rats (n = 79) were studied: (1) fixed duration of MCA occlusion (120 min) and variable durations of reperfusion (0.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 168 h); (2) variable durations of MCA occlusion (10, 20, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min) and a fixed duration of reperfusion (48 h); and (3) controls: sham operated rats and normal rats. Coronal sections from each brain were reacted with appropriate antibodies to GFAP and HSP-72 and stained with H&E for evaluation of cellular response to ischemia. Our data show that after MCA occlusion: (1) GFAP expression was found in the boundary zone to the infarct or in areas of selective incomplete ischemic necrosis; (2) GFAP expression was localized to the same areas where neurons express HSP-72 and are destined to survive the ischemic insult; and (3) HSP-72 expression was not found in astrocytes in any of the experimental groups. These studies suggest that after transient focal ischemia in the rat: areas where both GFAP and HSP-72 expression are lost are destined to become necrotic, even though cells may appear morphologically intact in the H&E preparations, and expression of GFAP and HSP-72 reflects astrocytic and neuronal viability, respectively.

Animals↗

Anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 antibody reduces ischemic cell damage after transient but not permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in the Wistar rat.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postischemic cerebral inflammation may contribute to ischemic cell damage. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a glycoprotein expressed on endothelial cells that facilitates leukocyte adhesion. We investigated the effect of administration of an anti-ICAM-1 antibody (1A29) on ischemic cell damage after transient (2-hour) or permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in the Wistar rat. METHODS: Groups studied were as follows: (1) transient MCA occlusion: rats were subjected to 2 hours of MCA occlusion, and after 1 hour of reperfusion they were treated with 1A29 (n = 11) or an isotype control antibody (n = 9); and (2) permanent MCA occlusion: rats were treated with 1A29 (n = 9) or an isotype control antibody (n = 7) 2 hours after onset of MCA occlusion. All animals were killed 1 week after onset of ischemia. Brain sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation. RESULTS: Significant reductions (P < .05) in both volume (44%) of the ischemic lesion and weight loss were found in animals subjected to transient MCA occlusion and treated with 1A29 compared with vehicle-treated animals. In contrast, in animals subjected to permanent MCA occlusion the lesion and the temporal profile of body weight were not altered by 1A29 administration. CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic cell damage is promoted by postischemic inflammatory response after 2 hours of transient MCA occlusion, and ischemic cell damage is reduced by administration of an anti-ICAM-1 antibody during reperfusion.

Animals↗

Upregulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and mRNA, and selective sparing of nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons after focal cerebral ischemia in rat.

Nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons are presumed to be resistant to neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity, however this resistance has not been demonstrated after focal cerebral ischemia. We therefore measured the temporal profile of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-I) mRNA and immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity over a one week period after permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in 48 male Wistar rats and compared these data to ischemic cell damage as evaluated on hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections by light microscopy. NOS-I mRNA increased as early as 15 min after MCA occlusion in the ipsilateral striatum and maximal expression of NOS-I was found in the ipsilateral cortex and striatum 1 h after MCA occlusion. The numbers of NOS-I-containing neurons in the ipsilateral cortex and striatum were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than NOS-I-containing neurons in the contralateral hemisphere at 2-48 h after the onset of ischemia. The number of NOS-I-containing neurons peaked at 4 h after MCA occlusion. Neurons exhibited shrinkage or were swollen at 1 to 4 h after MCA occlusion. At 24-48 h after ischemia, neurons in the ischemic lesion appeared to be eosinophilic or ghost like on H & E stained sections. However, some of these neurons retained morphological integrity on the NOS-I immunohistochemical sections. At 168 h after ischemia, all neurons within the lesion appeared necrotic on H & E stained sections; however, scatterred neurons expressed NOS-I and NADPH-diaphorase. The rapid upregulation of NOS-I and mRNA in the ischemic lesion suggests that NOS-I is involved in focal cerebral ischemic injury; the expression of NOS-I by neurons that retain their morphological structure in the area of the infarct suggests that NOS-I-containing neurons are more resistant to the ischemic insult. Our data also indicate a close association of NOS-I immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity in ischemic brain.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

Anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody reduces ischemic cell damage after transient focal cerebral ischemia in rat.

We investigated the effect of an anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody (1B6c) on ischemic cell damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion. We divided animals into three groups: MAb 1 group (n = 5)--rats were subjected to 2 hours of transient occlusion and 1B6c (1 mg/kg) was administered intravenously at 0 and 22 hours of reperfusion; MAb 2 group (n = 5)--same experimental protocol as MAb 1 group, except that the initial dose of 1B6c was increased to 2 mg/kg; and control group (n = 5)--same experimental protocol as MAb 2 group, except that an isotype-matched control antibody was administered. Animals were weighed and tested for neurological function before and after occlusion of the middle cerebral artery. Forty-six hours after reperfusion, brain sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histology evaluation. We observed a significant reduction of weight loss and improvement in neurological function after ischemia in the MAb 2 animals compared to MAb 1 and vehicle-treated animals (p < 0.05). The lesion volume was significantly smaller in the MAb 2 group (19.5 +/- 1.9%) compared to MAb 1 (29.9 +/- 2.6%) and vehicle-treated (34.2 +/- 5.4%) groups (p < 0.01). Tissue polymorphonuclear cell numbers were reduced in both 1B6c-administered groups. Our data demonstrate that administration of anti-CD11b antibody results in a dose-dependent, significant functional improvement and reduction of ischemic cell damage after transient focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Animals↗

Temporal profile of ischemic tissue damage, neutrophil response, and vascular plugging following permanent and transient (2H) middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.

We investigated the temporal profile of ischemic tissue damage, neutrophil response, and vascular occlusion after permanent and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by advancing a nylon monofilament to occlude middle cerebral artery (MCA). Two groups of rats were investigated: (1) those with permanent MCA occlusion (n = 29), and (2) and those having the arterial occlusion released after 2 h (n = 34). Experiments were terminated at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h after the onset of ischemia, and brain sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation. Initially, the cortical lesion was smaller in rats subjected to transient MCA occlusion than in rats subjected to permanent MCA occlusion (p < 0.02). The surface area of the lesion was identical in both groups at 48 h after the onset of ischemia. Neutrophil infiltration into tissue and the time of peak neutrophil infiltration occurred earlier after transient MCA occlusion than after permanent MCA occlusion (6 h, 48 h in transient; 12 h, 72 h in permanent). Within the lesions, the number of occluded vessels was significantly lower in the transient ischemia group than in the permanent ischemia group during the time interval between 12-48 h (p < 0.01). Our data suggest that the temporal evolution of the lesion, the pattern of neutrophil infiltration and the chronology of microvascular occlusion differs depending on whether the MCA occlusion is transient (2 h) or permanent; however, significant differences in the size of the brain lesion disappeared 48 h after onset of ischemia.

Animals↗

Postischemic administration of an anti-Mac-1 antibody reduces ischemic cell damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Postischemic cerebral inflammation may contribute to ischemic cell damage. The CD11b/18 (Mac-1) integrin mediates stimulated neutrophil binding to endothelia. We therefore investigated the effect of administration of an anti-Mac-1 monoclonal antibody on cerebral ischemic cell damage in the rat. METHODS: Rats (n = 10) were subjected to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion; the anti-Mac-1 antibody was administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg i.v. at 1 hour of reperfusion and 1 mg/kg i.v. at 22 hours of reperfusion or an isotype-matched control antibody (n = 10) was administered using the same experimental protocol. Rats were killed at 46 hours of reperfusion, and brain sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin for histological evaluation. In a separate population of rats given either vehicle (n = 8) or anti-Mac-1 antibodies (n = 9), intraparenchymal neutrophils were measured by means of a myeloperoxidase assay. RESULTS: The lesion volume was significantly smaller (28%) in the anti-Mac-1 antibody group compared with the vehicle control group (P < .01). Numbers of intraparenchymal polymorphonuclear cells were significantly reduced (P < .05) in the cortex of the anti-Mac-1 antibody group compared with the vehicle control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that administration of anti-Mac-1 antibody 1 hour after onset of reperfusion results in significant reductions of ischemic cell damage and intraparenchymal neutrophils after transient (2-hour) focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Animals↗

Anti-ICAM-1 antibody reduces ischemic cell damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a glycoprotein expressed on endothelial cells that facilitates leukocyte adhesion. To test the hypothesis that reduction of leukocytes in an ischemic lesion reduces ischemic brain damage, we measured the effect of administration of an anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody on ischemic brain damage after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat. ICAM-1 expression increased in the ischemic lesion, and the lesion volume was significantly reduced by 41% in the anti-ICAM-1 antibody group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were significantly reduced in the cortices of the anti-ICAM-1 antibody group compared with the control animals (p < 0.05). Our data indicate that administration of anti-ICAM-1 antibody results in a significant reduction of ischemic brain damage concomitant with a reduction of PMNs in the lesion after transient focal cerebral ischemia in the rat.

Animals↗

[Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for chest disease].

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery was applied in a total of 20 patients, since Dec. 1992. There were 16 man and 4 woman whose ages ranged from 20 to 65 years. Three patient had a wedge resection for lung tumors, one a lobectomy for tracheaectasy, eleven with recurrent spontaneous pneumothorax were successfully treated, Pleural tumors (n = 1), pulmonary cyst (n = 1), Three biopsy of lung. The advantages of this for patients include cosmetic considerations, a shorter operation period, low pain, earlier postoperation mobilization.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Gastric emptying rates to liquid or solid meals appear to be unaffected by spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVES: There is controversy with regard to the effect of spinal cord injury (SCI) on gastric emptying times of liquids. The emptying rates of solids in subjects with SCI have not yet been addressed. Thus, the gastric emptying rates for both liquids and solids were studied by radionuclide imaging in subjects with chronic SCI. METHODS: After an overnight fast, subjects with SCI were evaluated for gastric emptying rates for iso-osmolar (normal saline) and hyperosmolar (glucose) liquids and a mixed meal of liquids and solids. Twenty-five subjects received normal saline (500 ml). Of these 25 subjects, 16 and 4 others (a total of 20 subjects) received 75 g glucose dissolved in 225 ml water. Each of the liquid meals was labeled with 300 microCi technetium-99-m-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (99mTc-DPTA). The mixed meal consisted of egg white labeled with 300 microCi technetium-99m-sulfur colloid (99mTc-SC) between two slices of toast with water (110 ml). Each test meal was followed by anterior radionuclide imaging of the stomach with the subject seated. The results were compared with those of matched healthy nonSCI subjects from the literature. RESULTS: Compared with gastric emptying times reported in the literature in healthy subjects without SCI, no significant differences were noted in those with SCI with regard to rates of gastric emptying for liquids (whether iso- or hyperosmolar) and for solids. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings do not support the previously reported results of a delay in gastric emptying for liquids in subjects with SCI. We have extended our findings of essentially normal rates of gastric emptying of liquids to that of solids.

Adult↗

Neuronal survival is associated with 72-kDa heat shock protein expression after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat.

Induction of the 72-kDa heat shock protein expression is thought to protect neurons against the subsequent effects of ischemia. However, it is not clear whether the induction of 72-kDa heat shock protein expression by an ischemic event improves neuronal survival. To address this question, we outlined the temporal profile of neuronal induction and expression of the 72-kDa heat shock protein in a model of transient focal ischemia in the rat. Fifty two adult Wistar rats were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion of 2 h duration. At 0.5, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 168 h after reopening the artery, coronal brain sections were analyzed using both immunohistochemical methods and hematoxylin and eosin staining to determine the topographic and cellular distribution of the 72-kDa heat shock protein, as well as the extent of neuronal damage. Immunoreactivity to the 72-kDa heat shock protein was not detected in neurons that were destined to become necrotic, and were located in the ischemic core of the brain lesions. However, 72-kDa heat shock protein expression was evident in morphologically intact neurons located in the peripheral zone. The earliest neuronal expression of 72-kDa heat shock protein was detected in animals in which the 2 h occlusion of the middle cerebral artery was followed by 6 h recirculation; the intensity of the 72-kDa heat shock protein immunoreactivity peaked at 48 h, and progressively disappeared 7 days after the ischemic reperfusion event.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Suppression of morphine abstinence syndrome by body electroacupuncture of different frequencies in rats.

The effectiveness of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation in suppressing the morphine abstinence syndrome was studied. Male Wistar rats were made dependent on morphine either by multiple injections or pellet implantation. EA of 2 Hz or 100 Hz was administered for 30 min followed by naloxone challenge (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) and the withdrawal syndrome was scored for a period of 45 min. In rats receiving multiple injection regime, 100-Hz EA produced a statistically significant suppression of wet shakes (-61%), teeth chattering (-59%), escape attempts (-48%), weight loss (-3.3%) and penile licking (-28%) (P < 0.05). EA of 2 Hz produced only a mild but significant suppression in escape attempts (-42%) and wet shakes (-31%). Similar results were obtained in rats receiving pellet implantation. Since 100-Hz EA has been shown to accelerate the release of dynorphins in the CNS, the results seem to be compatible with the notion that dynorphin may play an important role in suppressing the opioid withdrawal syndrome.

Animals↗