Study on Action of Acupuncture on Ventromedial Nucleus of Hypothalamus in Obese Rats

Effects of acupuncture on the spontaneous discharge of nerve cells and levels of monoamineneurotransmitters in ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) of the obese rats were investigated.Results indicated that the levels of tyrosine (Tyr) and dopamine (DA) were lowered,the levels of5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-hydoxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) increased,and the frequency ofthe spontaneous discharge of nerve cells in VMH lowered in the obese rat group as compared with thenormal group.When acupuncture obtained the effect of weight reduction,the frequency ofspontaneous discharges of nerve cells in VMH were markedly increased,and the levels of Tyr,DA andtryptamine (Typ) and 5-HT/5-HIAA ratio elevated,and the 5-HT level lowered.It is suggested that thevirtuous regulative action of acupuncture on VMH might be one of the key factors in acupuncture forweight reduction.