Evidence Details for Nr3c1
PMID Title Journal Year Abstract
25887143 Acupoint specificity on acupuncture regulation of hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal cortex axis function. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2015 Mar 27;15:87. doi: 10.1186/s12906-015-0625-4. 2015 Mar 27 BACKGROUND: The hypothalamus is an essential part of the brain that responds to a variety of signaling including stressful stimulations and acupuncture signals. It is also the key element of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis(HPAA). The effect of acupuncture is transmitted into the brain from the distance sensory receptor around the acupoints via peripheral nerves and body fluid. In vivo recording the activities of stress reaction neurons (SRNs, CRH-like neurons) in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in response to the stimulations from different acupoints could therefore objectively reflect the acupuncture afferent effect. METHODS: In this study, the electrophysiological method was adopted to record synchronously the activities of 43 CRH-like neurons after acupuncture stimulations at 33 acupoints located at the different regions. The acupoints that specifically activate certain CRH-like neurons (specificity acupoints) were selected. Furthermore, we investigated in a rat model of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) whether these specificity acupoints regulate HPAA function. The endpoints of measurement include corticosterone (CORT) level in peripheral blood, the expressions of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein in PVN and the animal behavioral performance. RESULTS: Our results reveal that Shenshu (BL23), Ganshu (BL18), Qimen (LR14), Jingmen (GB25), Riyue (GB24), Zangmen (LR13), Dazui (DU14) and auricular concha region (ACR) are the specificity acupoints; and Gallbladder, Liver and Du Channels were the specificity Channels. The acupoints on Gallbladder Channel and the acupoints innervated by the same spinal cord segments as the adrenal gland demonstrated dramatic effects. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a new platform to further explore acupoints specificity in the regulation of HPAA activities."

Evidence Sentence: The endpoints of measurement include corticosterone (CORT) level in peripheral blood, the expressions of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein in PVN and the animal behavioral performance.
Evidence Sentence: Effect of acupuncture at the different acupoints on the expressions of GR and CRH protein in PVN
Evidence Sentence: Experiments compared GR and CRH protein expressions in PVN among the five groups.
Evidence Sentence: The results showed: GR protein expression (0.98 +- 0.19) in PVN was significantly reduced and CRH expression (1.36 +- 0.20) was increased apparently in M group, indicating the significant differences as compared with the correspond values in N group(1.93 +- 0.07, 0.21 +- 0.09).
Evidence Sentence: Acupuncture promoted GR expression in PVN and the result was different significantly between MEA group and M group (1.97 +- 0.09 vs 0.98 +- 0.19, p < 0.05).
Evidence Sentence: GR expression was also increased in tendency in MNEA group, but without significant difference as compared with M group.
Evidence Sentence: GR expression was reduced in tendency in NEA as compared with N group, but without significant difference (Figure 5 left).
Evidence Sentence: Accordingly, there is no significant differences between N and NEA groups in terms of the behavior, CRH and GR protein expressions in PVN as well as corticosterone level.
Evidence Sentence: Concerning the UCMS rats, HPAA function was of excitatory state, manifested as the increased expression of CRH protein and decreased expression of GR protein in PVN as well as the increased CORT level.
Evidence Sentence: Acupuncture inhibited CRH secretion via promoting the expression of GR in PVN so that glucocorticoid level was reduced and HPAA excitation was decreased.