Electroacupuncture Reduces Cocaine-Induced Seizures and Mortality in Mice

Abstract

The aims of this study were to characterize the protective profile of electroacupuncture (EA) on cocaine-induced seizures and mortality in mice. Mice were treated with EA (2 Hz, 50 Hz, and 100 Hz), or they underwent needle insertion without anesthesia at the Dazhui (GV14) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints before cocaine administration. EA at 50 Hz applied to GV14 and GV20 significantly reduced the seizure severity induced by a single dose of cocaine (75 mg/kg; i.p.). Furthermore, needle insertion into GV14 and GV20 and EA at 2 Hz and 50 Hz at both acupoints significantly reduced the mortality rate induced by a single lethal dose of cocaine (125 mg/kg; i.p.). In the sham control group, EA at 50 Hz applied to bilateral Tianzong (SI11) acupoints had no protective effects against cocaine. In addition, EA at 50 Hz applied to GV14 and GV20 failed to reduce the incidence of seizures and mortality induced by the local anesthetic procaine. In an immunohistochemistry study, EA (50 Hz) pretreatment at GV14 and GV20 decreased cocaine (75 mg/kg; i.p.)-induced c-Fos expression in the paraventricular thalamus. While the dopamine D3 receptor antagonist, SB-277011-A (30 mg/kg; s.c), did not by itself affect cocaine-induced seizure severity, it prevented the effects of EA on cocaine-induced seizures. These results suggest that EA alleviates cocaine-induced seizures and mortality and that the dopamine D3 receptor is involved, at least in part, in the anticonvulsant effects of EA in mice.

Electroacupuncture Reduces Seizure Activity and Enhances GAD 67 and Glutamate Transporter Expression in Kainic Acid Induced Status Epilepticus in Infant Rats

“…Similarly, the increase in the effect of PB when administered simultaneously with the electro-stimulation of SG-DM26 (KA-EA-PB) may be related to the increase in blood perfusion, as previously reported in cerebral ischemia, where an increase of blood perfusion in the brain decreased the penumbral area [58,59]. This demonstrates that EA facilitates intracerebral drug availability.…”

“…In contrast, the different effects between the KA-No-EA-PB and KA-EA-PB placebo groups, although not as effective in this model, can be attributed to the existing bioelectrical differences in acupuncture points. In these sites, a higher concentration of free nerve endings and neuroepithelial, neurovascular, and precapillary complexes have been reported around the acupuncture points, with a low electrical resistance, which gives them higher conductivity [58,59].…”

Abundant expression and functional participation of TRPV1 at Zusanli acupoint (ST36) in mice: mechanosensitive TRPV1 as an “acupuncture-responding channel”

“…Acupuncture is an ancient therapy that gained worldwide acknowledgment in recent decades [ 1 ]. It involves inserting needles into acupoints followed by manual manipulation (manual acupuncture, MA) or electrostimulation (electroacupuncture, EA) to induce its therapeutic effect in epilepsy, [ 2 ] stroke, [ 3 ] and pain treatment [ 4 - 6 ]. To confirm its efficacy, clinical studies have shown its benefits, particularly in pain management [ 7 - 13 ].…”

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Methamphetamine‐Induced Behavioral Changes in Mice

“…During EA stimulation period, animals were subjected to anesthesia with isoflurane inhalation with no pain response. Electrical stimulator (HC-0502, Home Care Technology, Co., Ltd., Tainan, Taiwan) provided 5 ms pulses at 100 Hz for 15 min following a previous study [9]. The current intensity was adjusted to evoke light muscle trembles (approximately 1.5–2 mV).…”