Effect of electroacupuncture at Sibai on the gastric myoelectric activities of denervated rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the mechanism of the exciting effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Sibai on the gastric myoelectric activities.


METHODS
A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups. Through intraperitoneal injection with atropine (the anti-cholinergic agent by blockade of muscarinic receptors), hexamethonium (automatic nerve ganglion-blocking agent) and reserpine (anti-adrenergic agent by depleting the adrenergic nerve terminal of its norepinephrine store), effects of EA at Sibai on the gastric myoelectric activities of the denervated rats were observed.


RESULTS
After intraperitoneal injection of atropine and hexamethonium, the average amplitude and ratio of period to time in the phase of high activity of gastric myoelectric slow wave, and the average numbers of the peaks of gastric myoelectric fast wave were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01), while after intraperitoneal injection of reserpine, the aforementioned three parameters were increased (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01). EA at Sibai point partially relieved the inhibitory effect of atropine and hexamethonium on the gastric myoelectric activities in the rats (P<0.05 or P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Cholinergic and adrenergic nervous systems and autonomic nerve ganglion participate in the peripheral passage of the controlling effects of EA at Foot Yangming Channel on gastrointestinal tract.
Chang
Xiao-Rong
XR
College of Acupuncture and Massage, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, Hunan Province, China. xrchang1956@sina.com
Yan
Jie
J
Zhao
Yan-Ling
YL
Li
Jiang-Shang
JS
Liu
Jian-Hua
JH
He
Jun-Feng
JF
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017776:Autonomic Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005730:Ganglionic Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D018738:Hexamethonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009121:Muscle Denervation; D016065:Myoelectric Complex, Migrating / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors
D005730:Ganglionic Blockers; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D018738:Hexamethonium; D001285:Atropine