Electroacupuncture of 2 Hz Has a Rewarding Effect: Evidence from a Conditioned Place Preference Study in Rats

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used to suppress heroin craving in addicts and the conditioned place preference (CPP) for morphine in the rat.tempspacetempspace The question remained whether EA by itself will produce some rewarding effect.tempspacetempspace This was investigated using the CPP procedure in the present study.tempspacetempspaceThe results indicated that rats showed a significant preference to the 2Hz EA-paired compartment.tempspacetempspaceThis rewarding effect of EA was prevented by pre-treatment with the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone [2 mg kg(-1), intraperitoneally (i.p.)], CB1 cannabinoid antagonist AM251 (3 mu g per rat, intracerebroventricularly) or D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 (0.1 mg kg(-1), i.p.), respectively. TempspacetempspaceIt is concluded that 2 Hz EA is capable of inducing CPP in the rat via the activation of the endogenous opioid-, cannabinoid- and dopamine- systems.http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000295672300001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=8e1609b174ce4e31116a60747a720701Integrative & Complementary MedicineSCI(E)PubMed2ARTICLE730514201