Relationship between effect of acupuncture on prolactin secretion and central catecholamine and R-aminobutyric acid

This laboratory had reported that acupuncture at "Tan-Zhong" acupoint could stimulate pituitary prolactin (PRL) secretion in both lactating and non-lactating (male, female, ovariectomized estrogen-supplemented) rats. Hu et al had discovered that acupuncture could increase plasma PRL level in women of lactation deficiency. As was known, pituitary PRL secretion was under the control of prolactin inhibitory factor (PIF) and prolactin releasing factor (PRF) released from hypothalamic neurons as well as several central neurotransmitters. In the past decade, many studies in neuroendocrinology revealed that Tubero-infundibular dopamine (TIDA) neurons of hypothalamus play a major modulating role in PRL secretion. It is generally agreed that dopamine was the major PIF. The central noradrenaline (NE) is also a modulator. It was reported that NE could inhibit PRL secretion, but others obtained opposite result. The GABA has dual actions on PRL secretion: central action is stimulatory, but inhibitory on pituitary directly Using agonist or antagonist of central neurotransmitter as well as its biosynthesis blocker etc., this paper mainly observed the possible role of catecholamine and r-aminobutyric acid in prolactin-elevating effect of acupuncture. This will help further studying on and provide possible central mechanism for the effect of promoting milk yield and elevating PRL secretion by acupuncture.