title: Effects of electroacupuncture on gastric myoelectric activity and substance P in the dorsal vagal complex of rats.
abstract: Acupuncture has been widely applied to treat gastrointestinal diseases in the clinic. However, its precise mechanism remains unknown. In the present study, effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli acupoints (ST36) on gastric myoelectric activity and substance P (SP) in the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) were observed. EA at ST36 significantly increased the frequency of slow waves and the frequency of the spike potentials superimposed on the slow waves, which persisted for 90 min after cessation of EA and was completely abolished after bilateral vagotomy. Meanwhile, the mean optical density of SP immunoreactive fibers in the DVC increased following EA. The results suggested that EA at ST36 promoted the gastric myoelectric activity, which was regulated by the vagus, and SP in the DVC may be involved in the excitatory effects. Furthermore, EA had a relative long-term post-effect. We presumed that DVC may be a supraspinal center in the effect of EA on gastric function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Analysis and Measurement Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, PR China.
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Shou-Xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.forename: Xiao-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ya-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ji-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000502:physiology; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017552:Solitary Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D013270:Stomach / Q000502:physiology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000502:physiology*; D014628:Vagotomy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P