Electroacupuncture Stimulation Suppresses the Increase in Alcohol‐Drinking Behavior in Restricted Rats

Abstract

Background: Although a number of studies on traditional eastern or Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal drugs, have been reported, few reports describe electroacupuncture (EAC) effects on drug‐ and alcohol‐seeking behaviors in animal models. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of EAC on changes in alcohol‐drinking behavior in rats challenged with restriction and immobilization stress. Material and Methods : Male Sprague Dawley® rats (260–280 g) were tightly hung and immobilized in restriction models for 10 min. These immobilization stresses were performed twice a week for 1 week and for 3 consecutive weeks for the short‐ and long‐restricted stress groups, respectively. EAC was applied for 10 min to the hindlimb point, Tsu‐San‐Li (ST 36), and the lumbar point, Shen‐Shu (BL 23). These points are used to treat mental and psychosomatic disorders and are known clinically to produce a sedation effect. Time‐access alcohol‐drinking behavior was determined at 24 hr after the termination of EAC. Finally, brain dopamine (DA) levels were assayed in the two groups. A sham‐control group underwent only restricted stress without EAC. Results: Time‐access alcohol‐drinking behavior increased significantly in the long‐restricted group compared with the short‐restricted group and controls. EAC applied to the ST 36 (Tsu‐San‐Li) point suppressed the increased alcohol‐drinking behavior in restricted rats. However, EAC applied to the Shen‐Shu (BL 23) point was not effective, because alcohol‐drinking behavior was significantly increased in long‐restricted rats compared with short‐restricted rats. Striatal DA levels of restricted rats with EAC stimulated at Tsu‐San‐Li were increased significantly compared with the rats with EAC applied to the Shen‐Shu point. Conclusion: These findings suggest that EAC applied at ST 36 (Tsu‐San‐Li) was more effective for reducing the increased alcohol‐drinking behavior in restricted rats, and they showed that a point specific in EAC procedure was associated with an increase of striatal DA levels. These findings provide new information for understanding alcohol‐drinking behavior and for treating human alcoholics.