The effect of acupuncture stimulation on alleviating emotional changes due to acute alcohol administration and the possibility of sigma1 receptor involvement

Pharmacological Analysis of GABAA Receptor and Sigma1R Chaperone Interaction: Research Report I-Investigation of the Anxiolytic, Anticonvulsant and Hypnotic Effects of Allosteric GABAA Receptors' Ligands

Two groups of facts have been established in previous drug development studies of the non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic fabomotizole. First, fabomotizole prevents stress-induced decrease in binding ability of the GABA_A receptor's benzodiazepine site. Second, fabomotizole is a Sigma1R chaperone agonist, and exposure to Sigma1R antagonists blocks its anxiolytic effect. To prove our main hypothesis of Sigma1R involvement in GABA_A receptor-dependent pharmacological effects, we performed a series of experiments on BALB/c and ICR mice using Sigma1R ligands to study anxiolytic effects of benzodiazepine tranquilizers diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) and phenazepam (0.1 mg/kg i.p.) in the elevated plus maze test, the anticonvulsant effects of diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.) in the pentylenetetrazole-induced seizure model, and the hypnotic effects of pentobarbital (50 mg/kg i.p.). Sigma1R antagonists BD-1047 (1, 10, and 20 mg/kg i.p.), NE-100 (1 and 3 mg/kg i.p.), and Sigma1R agonist PRE-084 (1, 5, and 20 mg/kg i.p.) were used in the experiments. Sigma1R antagonists have been found to attenuate while Sigma1R agonists can enhance GABA_ARs-dependent pharmacological effects.

Electroacupuncture stimulation of HT7 alleviates sleep disruption following acute caffeine exposure by regulating BDNF-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in the rat medial septum

Acupuncture stimulation can protect the brain against caffeine-induced sleep disruption. This study investigated whether electroacupuncture stimulation acupuncture point HT7 alleviates sleep disruption by regulating mBDNF and ER stress in the medial septum. Acute exposure to caffeine (15 mg/kg, i.p.) increased the wake time and decreased REM sleep, which HT7 stimulation alleviated. HT7 stimulation ameliorated the acute caffeine exposure-induced increase in the expression of BiP, an endoplasmic reticulum stress response protein, in the rat medial septum. Interestingly, HT7 stimulation induced the expression of mBDNF and pTrkB in the medial septum. The next experiment investigated whether TrkB phosphorylated by HT7 stimulation induced BiP expression in the rat medial septum. Before electroacupuncture stimulation at HT7, ANA-12 was administered to caffeine-treated rats. In rats administered ANA-12 in the medial septum, HT7 stimulation did not reduce BiP expression. These findings suggest that HT7 stimulation improves wake time and REM sleep dysfunction by regulating the BDNF-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress response in the medial septum. These results indicate that the alleviation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the medial septum by HT7 stimulation and the subsequent amelioration of insomnia may depend on phosphorylated TrkB activation.

Acupuncture Alleviates Anxiety and 22-kHz Ultrasonic Vocalizations in Rats Subjected to Repeated Alcohol Administration by Modulating the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone Signaling Pathway

The Shenmen point (acupuncture point heart 7: HT7), located in the heart meridian, is frequently used to treat mental disorders, including drug addiction, anxiety, and depression. This study aimed to determine how HT7 regulates anxiety and negative emotions caused by repeated alcohol administration, focusing on the amygdala and paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Repeated administration of alcohol (ETOH; 2 g/kg, i.p. injection, 16% v/v) for 14 days increased the corticosterone (CORT) levels, and HT7 stimulation reduced the plasma CORT levels. HT7 stimulation mitigated anxiety-like behaviors and reduced 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations in rats receiving repeated ETOH injections. HT7 stimulation increased the amygdala expression of mature brain-derived neurotropic factor (mBDNF) and phosphorylated tropomyosin receptor kinase B (pTrkB) and decreased the PVN corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) expression. Amygdala microinjections of the TrkB antagonist ANA-12 (0.1 pmol/1 μL) reversed the increase in PVN CRH levels. The reduced PVN CRH levels were regulated by CRH-expressing neurons in the amygdala, and the increased amygdala CRH levels were affected by the HT7-stimulation induced increases in mBDNF. HT7 stimulation alleviates increased stress hormone levels and mitigates anxiety and negative emotions caused by repeated ETOH administration. These results provide scientific support for the clinical use of acupuncture to treat various alcoholism-induced diseases.