Change in levels of monoamine neurotransmitters and their main metabolites of rat brain after electric acupuncture treatment.

The changes in levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), norepinephrine (NE), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylethyleneglycol sulphate (MHPG-SO4) and dopamine (DA) of rat brain were studied after electric acupuncture stimulation (EAS). We found that the mean values of cerebral 5-HT and 5-HIAA after EAS were increased 16% (p less than 0.001) and 24% (p less than 0.01) respectively, significantly higher than those of controls, whereas the mean value of cerebral NE was decreased 14% (p less than 0.01), significantly lower than that of the controls. The cerebral MHPG-SO4 and DA in both groups showed no significant difference. In a second series of experiments with another group of rats, EAS was administered once a day for ten days. There was no statistical significance between the treated group and the control group in the differences in brain contents of all three monoamine neurotransmitters and 5-HIAA.