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Electroacupuncture Activated Pathway from Nucleus Tractus Solitarii to Rostal Ventrolateral Medulla

Our previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) at the Jianshi‐Neiguan acupoints (P5‐P6, overlying the median nerve) attenuates sympathoexcitatory responses through its influence on neuronal activity in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (rVLM). The nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) receives inputs from somatic nerves. Although there are direct projections from NTS to rVLM, it is unknown if these projections participate in central responses during somatic nerve stimulation. Moreover, there is no information on activation of NTS neurons by EA at P5‐P6 acupoints, which subsequently affects on the rVLM. Thus, the present study evaluated neuronal activation of the NTS in response to EA, with regard to their projections to the rVLM. Seven to ten days after unilateral microinjection of the retrograde tracer, rodamine‐conjugated microspheres (100 nl) into the rVLM, five rats were subjected to 30 min of EA at P5‐P6 acupoints applied bilaterally. Perikarya containing the microsphere tracer were found in the NTS of both groups. Compared to four controls (needle placement without electrical stimulation), c‐Fos immunoreactivity and neurons double‐labeled with c‐Fos, an immediate early gene and the tracer were more frequently found in the NTS of EA‐treated rats, particularly in the medial and lateral subdivisions of caudal and intermediate regions of the NTS extension. These results suggest that EA at P5‐P6 acupoints activates NTS neurons. Furthermore, EA‐activated NTS neurons frequently project directly to the rVLM, which is known to participate in EA‐modulation of sympathetic activity (supported by NIH grants HL‐72125 and HL‐63313).