Electroacupuncture suppresses morphine reward-seeking behavior: Lateral hypothalamic orexin neurons implicated

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Integrative and Complementary Medicine
• Pharmacology

Background:

• The orexin system in the lateral hypothalamus (LH) is crucial for reward, drug relapse, and addiction.
• Understanding the mechanisms of acupuncture in modulating these processes is vital for developing new therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on morphine-conditioned place preference (CPP) and orexin expression in the LH.
• To explore the potential of EA combined with an orexin antagonist for treating drug-seeking behavior.

Main Methods:

• A two-chamber conditioned place preference (CPP) model was used to assess morphine's rewarding effects.
• Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied at BL23 and ST36 points.
• Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect orexin-positive nuclei in the LH.
• Morphine reinstatement was induced, and the effects of EA and an orexin A antagonist were evaluated.

Main Results:

• EA significantly suppressed morphine-induced CPP.
• EA treatment reduced the expression of orexin-positive nuclei in the LH.
• A combination of EA and an orexin A antagonist markedly decreased morphine reinstatement scores.

Conclusions:

• Orexin plays a role in acupuncture's effects on drug-seeking behavior.
• EA may modulate drug reward and relapse by influencing the orexin system.
• A combined therapy of EA and an orexin A antagonist presents a novel treatment strategy for drug reward seeking and relapse.