Abstract:BackgroundClinical and experimental evidence demonstrates that sleep and epilepsy reciprocally affect each other. Previous studies indicated that epilepsy alters sleep homeostasis; in contrast, sleep disturbance deteriorates epilepsy. If a therapy possesses both epilepsy suppression and sleep improvement, it would be the priority choice for seizure control. Effects of acupuncture of Feng-Chi (GB20) acupoints on epilepsy suppression and insomnia treatment have been documented in the ancient Chinese literature, … Show more
“…4h ). These data are adapted from our previous observations in order to reduce the use of animals [ 22 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…4a ), except for sleep suppression of NREM and REM sleep during the first 4 h of the dark period. Our previous results have demonstrated that the anesthetization of rats for 30 min with ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, prior to the dark period suppressed both NREM sleep and REM sleep during the first four hours of the dark period [ 12 , 22 ]. Therefore, the decreases of NREM sleep and REM sleep during the first 4 h of the dark period when rats received the 10 Hz sham EA stimuli and were under anesthetization were primarily due to the effect of tiletamine, a composition of zoletil.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…6 ). Our previous study demonstrates that administration of naloxone into the CeA does not alter sleep activity in rats [ 22 ], suggesting that the EA-induced enhancement of NREM sleep is specifically mediated by CeA opioid receptors. Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…High-frequency (100 Hz) EA stimuli of the bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints, in which a 30-min EA stimulation was performed prior to the dark period of the light-dark cycle three consecutive days before the administration of pilocarpine, did not suppress the pilocarpine-induced epileptiform electroencephalograms (EEGs); rather, it further increased the duration of epileptiform EEGs in rats [ 21 ]. Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy further decreases both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep [ 22 ]. High-frequency EA stimuli of Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorate pilocarpine-induced sleep reduction [ 22 ].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy further decreases both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep [ 22 ]. High-frequency EA stimuli of Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorate pilocarpine-induced sleep reduction [ 22 ]. These results suggest that high-frequency EA stimuli of Feng-Chi acupoints exhibit no benefit in protecting against pilocarpine-induced epilepsy and sleep disruptions.…”
BackgroundThe positive effects of acupuncture at Feng-Chi acupoints on treating epilepsy and insomnia have been well-documented in ancient Chinese literature. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind these effects. Our previous study demonstrated that high-frequency (100 Hz) electroacupuncture (EA) at Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorates both pilocarpine-induced focal epilepsy and sleep disruptions. This study investigated the effects of low-frequency (10 Hz) EA on epileptic activities and epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions.ResultsIn rats, the Feng-Chi acupoint is located 3 mm away from the center of a line between the two ears. Rats received 30 min of 10 Hz EA stimuli per day before each day’s dark period for three consecutive days. Our results indicated that administration of pilocarpine into the left CeA at the beginning of the dark period induced focal epilepsy and decreased both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep during the consequent light period. Low-frequency (10 Hz) EA at Feng-Chi acupoints suppressed pilocarpine-induced epileptiform EEGs, and this effect was in turn blocked by naloxone (a broad-spectrum opioid receptor antagonist), but not by naloxonazine (a μ-receptor antagonist), naltrindole (a δ-receptor antagonist) and nor-binaltorphimine (a κ-receptor antagonist). Ten Hz EA enhanced NREM sleep during the dark period, and this enhancement was blocked by all of the opioid receptor antagonists. On the other hand, 10 Hz EA reversed pilocarpine-induced NREM suppression during the light period, and the EA’s effect on the sleep disruption was only blocked by naloxonazine.ConclusionsThese results indicate that low-frequency EA stimulation of Feng-Chi acupoints is beneficial in improving epilepsy and epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions, and that opioid receptors in the CeA mediate EA’s therapeutic effects.
“…4h ). These data are adapted from our previous observations in order to reduce the use of animals [ 22 ]. Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…4a ), except for sleep suppression of NREM and REM sleep during the first 4 h of the dark period. Our previous results have demonstrated that the anesthetization of rats for 30 min with ketamine, an NMDA receptor antagonist, prior to the dark period suppressed both NREM sleep and REM sleep during the first four hours of the dark period [ 12 , 22 ]. Therefore, the decreases of NREM sleep and REM sleep during the first 4 h of the dark period when rats received the 10 Hz sham EA stimuli and were under anesthetization were primarily due to the effect of tiletamine, a composition of zoletil.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…6 ). Our previous study demonstrates that administration of naloxone into the CeA does not alter sleep activity in rats [ 22 ], suggesting that the EA-induced enhancement of NREM sleep is specifically mediated by CeA opioid receptors. Fig.…”
Section: Resultsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…High-frequency (100 Hz) EA stimuli of the bilateral Feng-Chi acupoints, in which a 30-min EA stimulation was performed prior to the dark period of the light-dark cycle three consecutive days before the administration of pilocarpine, did not suppress the pilocarpine-induced epileptiform electroencephalograms (EEGs); rather, it further increased the duration of epileptiform EEGs in rats [ 21 ]. Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy further decreases both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep [ 22 ]. High-frequency EA stimuli of Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorate pilocarpine-induced sleep reduction [ 22 ].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Pilocarpine-induced epilepsy further decreases both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep [ 22 ]. High-frequency EA stimuli of Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorate pilocarpine-induced sleep reduction [ 22 ]. These results suggest that high-frequency EA stimuli of Feng-Chi acupoints exhibit no benefit in protecting against pilocarpine-induced epilepsy and sleep disruptions.…”
BackgroundThe positive effects of acupuncture at Feng-Chi acupoints on treating epilepsy and insomnia have been well-documented in ancient Chinese literature. However, there is a lack of scientific evidence to elucidate the underlying mechanisms behind these effects. Our previous study demonstrated that high-frequency (100 Hz) electroacupuncture (EA) at Feng-Chi acupoints deteriorates both pilocarpine-induced focal epilepsy and sleep disruptions. This study investigated the effects of low-frequency (10 Hz) EA on epileptic activities and epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions.ResultsIn rats, the Feng-Chi acupoint is located 3 mm away from the center of a line between the two ears. Rats received 30 min of 10 Hz EA stimuli per day before each day’s dark period for three consecutive days. Our results indicated that administration of pilocarpine into the left CeA at the beginning of the dark period induced focal epilepsy and decreased both rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM (NREM) sleep during the consequent light period. Low-frequency (10 Hz) EA at Feng-Chi acupoints suppressed pilocarpine-induced epileptiform EEGs, and this effect was in turn blocked by naloxone (a broad-spectrum opioid receptor antagonist), but not by naloxonazine (a μ-receptor antagonist), naltrindole (a δ-receptor antagonist) and nor-binaltorphimine (a κ-receptor antagonist). Ten Hz EA enhanced NREM sleep during the dark period, and this enhancement was blocked by all of the opioid receptor antagonists. On the other hand, 10 Hz EA reversed pilocarpine-induced NREM suppression during the light period, and the EA’s effect on the sleep disruption was only blocked by naloxonazine.ConclusionsThese results indicate that low-frequency EA stimulation of Feng-Chi acupoints is beneficial in improving epilepsy and epilepsy-induced sleep disruptions, and that opioid receptors in the CeA mediate EA’s therapeutic effects.
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