Ketamine, 2 - (o - chlorophenyl) -2 - (methylamino) - cyclohexanone, is a general anesthetic which on awakening produces psychic disturbances correlated with the metabolism of serotonin. Since it is known that acupuncture increases cerebral serotonin, the blood levels of total and free tryptophan, its precursor, were studied in healthy volunteers to find out if the anti-hallucinatory action of acupuncture is dependent on an increase 1n cerebral serotonin.
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Sung Yung-Fong, Frederickson E.L., Holtzman S.G., “Effects of intraven-ous anesthetics on brain monoamines in the rat”, Anesthesiology,Vol. 39, pp. 478–487, 1973.
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MusinuC.VargluL. “Effetto della ketamina sul metabolismo della dopamina e della serotonina cerebrale”, Minerva Anestesiologica, Vol. 43, pp. 495–500, 1977.
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Da Prada M., Saner A., Burkard W.P., Bartholini G., Pletscher A., “Lysergic acid diethylamide: evidence for stimulation of cerebral dopamine receptors”, Brain Res.,Vol. 94, pp. 67–73, 1975.
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Yl Ching-cheng, Lu Ta-hsien, Wu Shih-hsiang, Tsou Kang, “A study on the release of H-5-Hydroxytryptamine from brain during acupuncture and morphine analgesia”, Scientific Sinica,Vol. XX, pp. 113–124, 1977.
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Hang Chi-sheng, Chou Pao-ho, Lu Chen-chu, Lu Lian-hua, Yang Tsung-hsien, Jen Min-feng, “The role of central 5-hydroxytryptamine in acupuncture analgesia”, Scientia Sinica,Vol. XXII, pp. 91–104, 1979.
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OmuraY. “Pathophysiology of acupuncture treatment: effects of acu-puncture on cardiovascular and nervous systems”, Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research, The International Journal, Vol. 1, pp. 51–141, 1975
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OmuraY.Editorial: “Acupuncture (with possible roles of serotonin & melatonin) and related unorthodox methods of diagnosis and treatment: non-invasive spheno-palatine ganglionic block, abrasion of naso-pharyngeal mucosa, and applied kinesiology”, Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research, The International Journal, Vol. 4, pp. 69–89,
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OmuraY.Editorial: “Part II–Impressions of the history making Acupuncture Symposia held in Peking and travel experiences in the People's Republic of China”, Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Re-search, The International Journal, Vol. 5. PP. 1–28, 1980.
12.
StellaL.TorriG.CatiglioniC.L. “The relative potencies of thiopentone, ketamine, propanidid, alphaxalone and diazepam, a statis-tical study in man”, Br. J. of Anesthesia, Vol. 51, pp. 119–122, 1979.
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LoriniG.FusariA. “Agopuntuna e psichiatria: nota preliminare”, Minerva Medica, Vol. 68, pp. 711–715, 1977.
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KaoJ.J. “Acupuncture therapeutics in the treatment of schizo-phrenia”, Comparative Medicine East and West, Vol. 5, pp. 181–184, 1977.
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NogierP. “Le point psychotropes”, Auricolomedicine, Vol. 5, pp. 21–24, 1976.
16.
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EcclestonE.G. “A method for the estimation of free and total acid-soluble plasma tryptophan using an ultrafiltration technique”, Clin. Chim. Acta, Vol. 48, pp. 269–272, 1973.
18.
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19.
DenklaW.D. and DeweyH.H. “The determination of tryptophan in plasma, liver and urine”, J. Lab. Clin. Med., Vol. 69, pp. 160–169, 1967.
