[Effect of Asu-AVT on electroacupuncture (EA) analgesia]

The Asu-AVT (1,6-aminosuberic acid -8-arginine-vasotocin) in an analogue of 8-arginine-vasotocin (AVT) which is one of pineal hormones. The effect of Asu-AVT on the pain threshold and EA analgesia was studied in rats. An increase of 16.2-41.5% in pain threshold was observed within 70 min. after ivc of Asu-AVT (75ng), while the Asu-AVT injection in combination with EA produced a significant increase of 164.6-309.1% in pain threshold, which was much higher than that in the saline-EA group (p < 0.05-0.01). The effect of Atu-AVT is analogous to that of oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin. The data indicate ivc of ASu-AVT not only elevates the pain threshold, but also enhances the EA analgesia. These results suggest that the pineal hormone, AVT may play a role in the EA analgesia.