Hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at acupoint GB34 against CCl4-induced chronic liver damage in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at Yanglingquan (GB34) on CCl4-induced chronic liver damage in rats.


METHODS
Rats were injected intraperitoneally with CCl4 (1 mL/kg) and treated with manual acupuncture using reinforcing manipulation techniques at left GB34 (Yanglingquan) 3 times a week for 10 wk. A non-acupoint in left gluteal area was selected as a sham point. To estimate the hepatoprotective effect of manual acupuncture at GB34, measurement of liver index, biochemical assays including serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol, histological analysis and blood cell counts were conducted.


RESULTS
Manual acupuncture at GB34 reduced the liver index, serum ALT, AST, ALP and total cholesterol levels as compared with the control group and the sham acupuncture group. It also increased and normalized the populations of WBC and lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Manual acupuncture with reinforcing manipulation techniques at left GB34 reduces liver toxicity, protects liver function and liver tissue, and normalizes immune activity in CCl4-intoxicated rats.
Yim
Yun-Kyoung
YK
Department of Meridian abd Acupoint, College of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon University, #12407, 96-3, Dong-gu, Daejeon 300-716, South Korea. docwindy@dju.ac.kr
Lee
Hyun
H
Hong
Kwon-Eui
KE
Kim
Young-Il
YI
Lee
Byung-Ryul
BR
Kim
Tae-Han
TH
Yi
Ji-Young
JY
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride / Q000633:toxicity; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase