Acupuncture analgesia-related receptors and ligands Progress in Positron.docVIP

 PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT 27 Acupuncture analgesia-related receptors and ligands Progress in Positron Author: Hui-Chun Wang, Tso-Tao, GUAN Yi-hui [Keywords:] acupuncture analgesia; electro-acupuncture; receptor; positron emission tomography; radioactive ligand As a traditional treatment method, acupuncture can be widely used to regulate physiological function as well as ameliorate pathologic processes, and the capital application is analgesia. Many studies, including neurobiochemisitry, histopathology and radioligand binding assay of receptor, showed that acupuncture analgesia (AA) was a complex physiological process mediated by various neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, modulators and receptors [1  3]. However, the direct clinical evidence of these studies is limited as they were animal experiments. According to characteristics of receptor ligand  binding domains, positron emission tomography (PET) receptor imaging had its superiority in real  timely investigating the distribution (localization), quantity (density) and function (affinity) of the trace receptors in vivo with non  invasive approach. It would interpret the central action mechanism of AA and promote reasonable application of acupuncture if the PET receptor imaging should be used in AA research. As well  known, it is necessary for receptor imaging to select the suitable radioligand, therefore, the present article reviewed the central neuroreceptors related to AA and their respective radioligands labeled with [11] carbon (11C). 1 Opiate receptors 1.1 Opiate receptors related to AA As a treatment method of stimulation producing analgesia, acupuncture can relieve pain by activating the pain  related receptors in brain, where endogenous opioid peptides (EOPs) and their receptors are the major neurochemical substances involved in AA [1, 2]. Opiate receptors (ORs) are always the prevalent spot in life science since they were discovered. In 1973, there was the first report that ORs can be fou