Stimulation of the Po-shen and Shen-hun scalp-acupuncture bands modifies levels of inhibitory and excitatory amino acids in the immature rat brain Lucia Estrella Franco-Santana a,b , Sergio Torres-Castillo b , María Eva González-Trujano c , Misael González-Ramírez a,⇑ a Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Neurológicas, Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Av. Cuauhtémoc 330, Col. Doctores, C.P. 06720 México D.F., Mexico b Universidad Estatal del Valle de Ecatepec, Av. Central esquina Leona Vicario S/N, Col. Valle de Anáhuac, C.P. 55210 Edo. de México, Mexico c Dirección de Investigación en Neurociencias del Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Calz. México-Xochimilco 101, Col. Sn Lorenzo Huipulco, C.P. 14370 México D.F., Mexico article info Article history: Received 15 November 2012 Received in revised form 7 May 2013 Accepted 12 May 2013 Available online 18 May 2013 Keywords: Acupuncture Excitatory amino acid Inhibitory amino acid Po-shen band Scalp-acupuncture Shen-hun band Pentobarbital abstract Objective: In the present study, the effect of stimulation of the Po-shen and Shen-hun scalp-acupuncture bands on tissue amino acid concentrations in several brain regions in awake and pentobarbital-sedated immature rats was evaluated. Materials and methods: Sprague–Dawley rats (aged 15 days) were organized in four groups of at least eight animals: control groups received saline solution 0.9% or sodium pentobarbital at 30 mg/kg dosage via intraperitoneal. Experimental groups received saline solution or sodium pentobarbital plus stimula- tion in Po-shen and Shen-hun scalp-acupuncture bands for one continuous hour during 10 sessions by using scalp-acupuncture. Results: As compared to rats receiving saline solution, scalp-acupuncture produced significant changes in amino acid concentrations, depending on the analyzed region, as follows: in inhibitory amino acids, a GABA increase was observed in amygdala and hippocampus (491 and 184%, respectively), but a decrease in the substantia nigra (80%); glycine showed decrease in all the analyzed regions, except for an increase in brainstem(78%); glutamine presented an increase in hippocampus and cortex (42 and 149%, respec- tively). In the case of excitatory amino acids, glutamate decreased in all the analyzed regions; whereas aspartate decreased in substantia nigra and brainstem (77.08 and 35%, correspondingly) but increased in hippocampus and cortex (32 and 54%, respectively). The combined treatment of scalp-acupuncture and a GABAergic depressant drug like pentobarbital resulted in almost all changes induced in amino acids for scalp-acupuncture alone being significantly reverted. Conclusion: Stimulation of the Po-shen and Shen-hun scalp-acupuncture bands by using scalp-acupunc- ture alone might produce depressant activity by changes in amino acids, but the combination with a GAB- Aergic tranquilizer like sodium pentobarbital can interfere with this response. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction The word acupuncture derives from the Latin ‘‘Acus’’, meaning needle, and ‘‘Pungue’’, meaning to penetrate. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture consists of the strategic penetration and stimulation through the skin of certain points in the body, specifically of points that have a low electrical resistance and high conductivity. Stimulation of these points can also be achieved via moxibustion, magneto-therapy, electro- stimulation, laser, ultrasound, cupping glasses, tacks, small bullets or acupressure; to choose the most suitable method, one must consider a patient’s group of symptoms and her/his diagnosis (WHO, 2002). Scalp-acupuncture was modeled after traditional acupuncture by Jiao Shiunfa in China in 1970. Shiunfa theorized that points of acupuncture could exist in the ‘‘brain’’ (i.e., in the scalp), just as they do in the back, thorax and abdomen. The first supporting case for scalp-acupuncture is the case of an elderly woman who suffered spasmodic pains in her arms and legs caused by arteriosclerosis. The woman inserted needles into her scalp, considering the sensorial area. By the following day, the pain had subsided considerably (Gaynor, 2000). Scalp-acupuncture is now 0197-0186/$ - see front matter Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuint.2013.05.004 ⇑ Corresponding author. Tel./fax: +52 55 5578 0240. E-mail addresses: sakura_3280@hotmail.com (L.E. Franco-Santana), sergiotorcas@ yahoo.com.mx (S. Torres-Castillo), evag@imp.edu.mx (M.E. González-Trujano), gonzalez.misael@imss.gob.mx, misael.gonzalez@imss.gob.mx (M. González-Ramírez). Neurochemistry International 63 (2013) 275–282 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Neurochemistry International journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/nci