TY - JOUR AU - Shin, Joo Hyun AU - Fan, Yu AU - Kim, Do-Hee AU - Jang, Han Byeol AU - Chang, Suchan AU - Ryu, Yeonhee AU - Bae, Jong Han AU - Lee, Sanghag AU - Lee, Bong Hyo AU - Steffensen, Scott C. AU - Yang, Chae Ha AU - Kim, Hee Young PY - 2020 DA - 2020/02/06 TI - Paired mechanical and electrical acupuncture of neurogenic spots induces opioid-mediated suppression of hypertension in rats JO - The Journal of Physiological Sciences SP - 14 VL - 70 IS - 1 AB - While our recent studies have suggested that effective acupoints display neurogenic inflammation and can be identified as neurogenic spots (Neuro-Sps), the optimal stimulation conditions and the underlying mechanisms remain uncharacterized. We developed a combined mechano-electrical acupuncture device (MEA) and examined the effects of acupuncture at Neuro-Sps on systolic blood pressure (BP) in a rat model of immobilization-induced hypertension (IMH) and the mediation of endogenous opioid systems in its effect. Cutaneous neurogenic spots were found mostly in the forelimb. Electrical and mechanical acupuncture of Neuro-Sps increased 22-kHz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), c-Fos expression and cell excitability in the midbrain and synergistically alleviated the development of hypertension following immobilization stress, which was prevented by administration of the opioid antagonist naloxone into the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM). These findings suggest that mechanical and electrical stimulation at Neuro-Sps suppresses the development of hypertension via mediation of the endogenous opioid system. SN - 1880-6562 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12576-020-00735-4 DO - 10.1186/s12576-020-00735-4 ID - Shin2020 ER -