针刺不同腧穴对失眠大鼠下丘脑γ-氨基丁酸和γ-氨基丁酸A受体的影响

Effect of Acupuncture at Different Acupoints on Expression of Hypothalamic GABA and GABAA Receptor Proteins in Insomnia Rats

目的:通过比较针刺不同腧穴对失眠大鼠脑内γ-氨基丁酸(gamma-aminobutyric acid,GABA)和γ-氨基丁酸A受体(gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor,GABAAR)阳性表达的影响,探讨针刺不同腧穴对失眠大鼠脑内神经递质的调整作用。方法:将70只大鼠随机分为模型对照组、空白对照组、"神门"组、"内关"组、"三阴交"组、"足三里"组、"申脉-照海"组,每组10只。大鼠腹腔注射氯苯丙氨酸制造失眠模型,各治疗组针刺相应腧穴。用免疫组织化学法检测大鼠下丘脑GABA、GABAAR的阳性细胞数。结果:同空白对照组比较,模型对照组GABA、GABAAR阳性细胞数及爬竿时间明显下降(P<0.05)。与模型对照组比较,各针刺组大鼠下丘脑内GABA和GABAAR阳性细胞数量增多,同时爬竿时间延长(P<0.05)。各针刺组之间比较,"申脉-照海"组和"神门"组的疗效明显高于"足三里"组、"三阴交"组和"内关"组(P<0.05)。结论:针刺"申脉-照海""神门""内关""足三里"和"三阴交"均可提高下丘脑GABA和GABAAR,针刺可能通过此作用起到安神镇静的作用,改善机体免疫能力,达到治疗失眠的目的。治疗失眠常用穴申脉、照海和神门的调整作用较好。

Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture of ＂Shenmai＂ （BL 62） and ＂Zhaohai＂ （KI 6）,＂Shenmen＂ （HT 7）, etc. on the expression of hypothalamic γ-aminobutyric acid （GABA） and GABA^ receptor （GABAAR） proteins in experimental insomnia rats so as to explore its mechanism underlying improving sleeping. Methods Seventy Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, model, ＂Sanyinjiao＂ （SP 6）, ＂Neiguan＂ （PC6）, ＂Zusainli＂ （ST 36）, ＂Shenmen＂ （HT7）,and ＂Shenmai＂ （BL 62）-Zhaohai （KI 6, BL 62-KI 6） groups, with 10 rats in each group. Insomnia model was established by intrape- ritoneal injection of chlorophenylalanine solution （PCPA, 1 mL/100 g）. An acupuncture needle was inserted into each of the bilateral HT 7, PC 6, SP 6, ST 36 and BL 62-KI 6 respectively and manipulated for about 1 min, once daily for 7 days. Hypothamic GABA and GABAAR protein expressions were detected by immunohistochemistry. The animals＇ physical ability was evaluated by using pole-climbing test in a water tank. Results In comparison with the normal control group, the numbers of hypothalamic GA- BA immunoreaction （IR）- and GABAAR IR-positive neurons and the pole-climbing time were reduced significantly in the model group （P〈0. 05）. While in comparison with the model group, the numbers of hypothalamic GABA IR-positive neurons and those of hypothalamic GABAA R IR-positive neurons in the HT 7, PC 6, SP 6, ST 36 and BL 62-KI 6 groups, as well as the pole-climbing duration in the SP 6, ST 36 and BL 62-KI 6 groups were increased considerably （P〈0.05, P〈0. 01 ）. The effects of HT 7 and BL 62-KI 6 groups were significantly superior to those of PC 6, ST 36 and SP 6 groups in up-regulating GABA and GABAAR expression, and the effect of BL 62-KI 6 group was remarkably better than those of HT 7, PO 6, SP 6 and ST 36 groups in lengthening the pole-climbing time （P〈0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture can effectively suppress insomnia induced down-regulation of hypothalamic GABA and GABAAR in rats and lengthen pole-climbing time, which may contribute to its effect in relieving insomnia.