Electroacupuncture-induced neural activation detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging in rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of acupuncture on neural activity detected by use of manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and elucidate the relationship between somatic acupoint stimulation and brain activation.


METHODS
40 New Zealand White rabbits.


METHODS
Manganese-enhanced fMRI was performed in anesthetized rabbits manipulated with electroacupuncture (EA) on Zusanli (ST-36) and Yanglingquan (GB-34) acupoints. Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. T1-weighted images were acquired sequentially as follows: baseline, after mannitol injection, after manganese infusion, and 5 and 20 minutes after initiation of EA.


RESULTS
Changes in focal neural activity were detected by use of manganese-enhanced fMRI. Stimulation on Zusanli (ST-36) for 5 minutes resulted in activation of the hippocampus, whereas stimulation on Yanglingquan (GB-34) resulted in activation of the hypothalamus, insula, and motor cortex. Activation became less specific after 20 minutes of EA. Furthermore, stimulation on ipsilateral acupoints led to bilateral brain activation.


CONCLUSIONS
Each acupoint has a corresponding cerebral linkage, and stimulation on these points resulted in time-dependent neural activation. Understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways may provide a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.
Chiu
J H
JH
Institute of Traditional Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Cheng
H C
HC
Tai
C H
CH
Hsieh
J C
JC
Yeh
T C
TC
Cheng
H
H
Lin
J G
JG
Ho
L T
LT
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese; D008353:Mannitol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*
D008353:Mannitol; D008345:Manganese