Numerous studies from different international groups have demonstrated that sensations can be propagated along acupuncture channel pathways.The propagated sensation along the channel pathway(PSCP)can be elicited by el...Numerous studies from different international groups have demonstrated that sensations can be propagated along acupuncture channel pathways.The propagated sensation along the channel pathway(PSCP)can be elicited by electroacupuncture(EA),transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS),manual acupuncture(MA),and heat applied to distal acupuncture points(acupoints).Nitric oxide(NO)levels were reported to be elevated in the gracile nucleus and skin regions near to the EA sites,with higher levels at acupoints associated with an enhanced expression of NO synthase and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1.The stimuli,EA,MA,TENS,and heat,have been used to elicit axonal reflexes,which increase local release of NO and neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene related peptide.Furthermore,the sensation of PSCP along the body surface occurs only ipsilaterally to the stimulated acupoints in various human studies,which does not support the involvement of the spinal-thalamic pathway,which would involve cross over transmission of the signals.The gracile nucleus receives ascending input from the sciatic nerve and responds to somatosensory stimulation mainly on the ipsilateral side via the dorsal column pathway.EA at Zusanli(ST36)increases NO release and expression of NO synthase mainly in the ipsilateral side of the gracile nucleus,while the cardiovascular effects and analgesic responses to EA at ST36 are changed by influences of l-arginine-derived NO synthesis in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus in rats.The stimuli-induced release of NOergic molecules and neuropeptides exist high levels in the acupoints,which contain rich neuronal components and blood vessels.Enhanced NOergic molecules at acupoints cause axon reflexes during the stimuli,which elevate cutaneous blood flow.Elevated NOergic molecules and local blood flow may spread over acupoints one after another along the meridian lines differing from nerve pathways following the stimuli to induce PSCP.The same types of stimulation also elicit NO release in the gracile nucleus,which contributes to the somatosensory signal transduction of PSCP through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways.Other substances such as serotonin and catecholamines are proposed to mediate responses and certain effects of acupuncture-like stimulation but their mechanisms are poorly-understood.In this review we summarize the current understanding of the neurobiological processes of PSCP research with an emphasis on recent developments of NO mediating stimulation-evoked axon reflexes and somatosensory signal transduction for PSCP perceptions through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways.展开更多
Egg incubation on the female abdomen is the parental care behavior observed in aeglids,in which eggs are kept adhered to maternal pleopods and maintained,cleaned and aerated.In A.platensis,egg attachment occurs with t...Egg incubation on the female abdomen is the parental care behavior observed in aeglids,in which eggs are kept adhered to maternal pleopods and maintained,cleaned and aerated.In A.platensis,egg attachment occurs with the aid of pleopodal setae,which are twisted around their axis in the distal region,forming the funiculus,and pleopodal glands,which are responsible for the production of the adhesive substance that seems to be involved in egg fixation to pleopodal setae.Those glands are acini formed by secretory cells arranged concentrically around a central duct,giving them a rosette appearance.Two types of secretory cells were observed,those that produce electron-lucid vesicles and those having electron-dense ones.Both kinds of vesicles are released in a duct whose opening pore is located on the pleopodal surface and constitute the adhesive substance that coats eggs and pleopodal setae,ensuring egg fixation to the female body and maternal care maintenance.This study investigates the internal and external morphology of Aegla platensis pleopods,to understand the egg attachment process and identify the structures involved in this phenomenon.Three microscopy techniques are used:scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and optical microscopy(OM).展开更多
基金possible by National Institutes of Health Grant(No.AT002478,AT004620,and AT004504)from the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine.
文摘Numerous studies from different international groups have demonstrated that sensations can be propagated along acupuncture channel pathways.The propagated sensation along the channel pathway(PSCP)can be elicited by electroacupuncture(EA),transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation(TENS),manual acupuncture(MA),and heat applied to distal acupuncture points(acupoints).Nitric oxide(NO)levels were reported to be elevated in the gracile nucleus and skin regions near to the EA sites,with higher levels at acupoints associated with an enhanced expression of NO synthase and transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1.The stimuli,EA,MA,TENS,and heat,have been used to elicit axonal reflexes,which increase local release of NO and neuropeptides such as calcitonin gene related peptide.Furthermore,the sensation of PSCP along the body surface occurs only ipsilaterally to the stimulated acupoints in various human studies,which does not support the involvement of the spinal-thalamic pathway,which would involve cross over transmission of the signals.The gracile nucleus receives ascending input from the sciatic nerve and responds to somatosensory stimulation mainly on the ipsilateral side via the dorsal column pathway.EA at Zusanli(ST36)increases NO release and expression of NO synthase mainly in the ipsilateral side of the gracile nucleus,while the cardiovascular effects and analgesic responses to EA at ST36 are changed by influences of l-arginine-derived NO synthesis in the ipsilateral gracile nucleus in rats.The stimuli-induced release of NOergic molecules and neuropeptides exist high levels in the acupoints,which contain rich neuronal components and blood vessels.Enhanced NOergic molecules at acupoints cause axon reflexes during the stimuli,which elevate cutaneous blood flow.Elevated NOergic molecules and local blood flow may spread over acupoints one after another along the meridian lines differing from nerve pathways following the stimuli to induce PSCP.The same types of stimulation also elicit NO release in the gracile nucleus,which contributes to the somatosensory signal transduction of PSCP through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways.Other substances such as serotonin and catecholamines are proposed to mediate responses and certain effects of acupuncture-like stimulation but their mechanisms are poorly-understood.In this review we summarize the current understanding of the neurobiological processes of PSCP research with an emphasis on recent developments of NO mediating stimulation-evoked axon reflexes and somatosensory signal transduction for PSCP perceptions through the dorsal medulla-thalamic pathways.
基金The authors thank the technicians of the Centro de Microscopia Eletronica(CME)and the histology laboratory of the Department of Zoology,Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul(UFRGS)who assisted with sample preparation,as well as the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development(CNPq)of Brazil.
文摘Egg incubation on the female abdomen is the parental care behavior observed in aeglids,in which eggs are kept adhered to maternal pleopods and maintained,cleaned and aerated.In A.platensis,egg attachment occurs with the aid of pleopodal setae,which are twisted around their axis in the distal region,forming the funiculus,and pleopodal glands,which are responsible for the production of the adhesive substance that seems to be involved in egg fixation to pleopodal setae.Those glands are acini formed by secretory cells arranged concentrically around a central duct,giving them a rosette appearance.Two types of secretory cells were observed,those that produce electron-lucid vesicles and those having electron-dense ones.Both kinds of vesicles are released in a duct whose opening pore is located on the pleopodal surface and constitute the adhesive substance that coats eggs and pleopodal setae,ensuring egg fixation to the female body and maternal care maintenance.This study investigates the internal and external morphology of Aegla platensis pleopods,to understand the egg attachment process and identify the structures involved in this phenomenon.Three microscopy techniques are used:scanning electron microscopy(SEM),transmission electron microscopy(TEM),and optical microscopy(OM).
