Electroacupuncture-related changes of NADPH-diaphorase and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the brainstem of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The aim of this study was to investigate the electroacupuncture-related changes of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the brainstem of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We evaluated the changes of NADPH-d-positive neurons using a histochemical method and the changes of nNOS-positive neurons using an immunohistochemical method. The staining intensities of NADPH-d-positive neurons and nNOS-positive neurons were assessed in a quantitative fashion using a microdensitometrical method based on optical density by means of an image analyzer. The optical density of NADPH-d-positive neurons and nNOS-positive neurons of the Shinsu (BL23) and Choksamni (ST36) electroacupuncture groups were significantly decreased in most brainstem areas as compared to the normal and arbitrary groups, with the exception of the optical density of NADPH-d positive neurons in the prepositus nucleus as compared to the arbitrary group. The present results demonstrated that electroacupuncture changes the activity in the NO system in the brainstem of SHR and the site where electroacupuncture is administered is of importance for this effect.