Efeitos da eletroacupuntura sobre a expressão de receptores canabinóides (CB1) em camundongos abstinentes ao etanol

• Autor(a) principal: Escosteguy-Neto, João Carlos [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Tipo de documento: Dissertação
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/9395
• topic: Abstinência; CB1; Camundongos; Álcool; Eletroacupuntura

There is an important correlation between ethanol and endocannabinoid system. Besides its modulatory effects over the positive reinforcement effects of ethanol, CB1 receptor also is involved in the negative affective states of ethanol withdrawal. Recently was described that CB1 receptor is stimulated by acupuncture procedures, which in turn, have been used to minimize the symptoms of abstinences in alcoholics. So, the present study investigated the electroacupuncture effects over the CB1 expression in ethanol abstinente mice. Male Swiss mice (N=72) were injected daily with ethanol (2 g/kg, i.p), for 21 days. Electroacupuncture was performed daily, during 4 (subsequent) days of ethanol withdrawal. The stimulus of 2hz or 100hz was provided in two acupoint combinations: Ea1 [(ST-36 /Zusanli) and (PC-6/ Neiguan)] or Ea2 [(DU-14 /Dazhui) and (DU-20/Bai Hui)]. The specificity of the acupoints effects was assessed by the inclusion of additional groups: restraint (immobilization procedure), Ea3 (ST 25/Tianshu - acupoints used for other non-related disorders), Sham1 or Sham2 (transdermic stimulation near the respective acupoints). Control group was only handled during withdrawal and saline group was chronically treated with saline and handled similarly to control. Lastly, the animals were perfused and their brains processed for CB1 immunohistochemistry. Ethanol withdrawal and restraint stress have synergic effects and increase CB1 in medial prefrontal cortex, striatum, hippocampus, amygdala and ventral tegmental area. Although all electroacupuncture procedures blocked the CB1 upregulation, the specificity of the acupoint stimulation was seen only for Ea1 at 2hz and Ea2 at 100hz. Therefore, specificity of the electroacupuncture depends on the encephalic nuclei, the acupoint association and the frequency of stimulation.