title: Acupuncture at "Zusanli" (St.36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP.6) Points on the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Study of the Bioavailability of (99m)Tc-Sodium Pertechnetate in Rats.
abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the differences of acupuncture effect between the Zusanli (St.36) and Sanyinjiao (SP.6) points on the gastrointestinal-tract (GIT) segment performed by the bioavailability of (99m)Tc-sodium-pertechnetate (Na(99m)TcO(4)) in rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 21) were allocated into three groups of seven each. Group 1 was treated by acupuncture bilaterally at St.36; Group 2 at SP.6; and Group 3 was untreated (control). After 10 min of needle insertion in anesthetized rats, 0.3 mL of Na(99m)TcO(4) (7.4 MBq) was injected via ocular-plexus. After 20 min, the exitus of animals was induced by cervical-dislocation and GIT organs isolated. However, immediately before the exitus procedure, blood was collected by cardiac-puncture for blood radio-labeling (BRL). The radioactivity uptake of the blood constituents was calculated together with the GIT organs by a well gamma counter. The percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) of Na(99m)TcO(4) was calculated for each GIT organs, while BRL was calculated in %ID. According to the one-way ANOVA, the stomach, jejunum, ileum from the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2) had significant differences compared to the controls (Group 3). However, between the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2), there were significant differences (P < .05) in the stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, transverse and rectum. In BRL analysis, Group 2 showed significant increase and decrease of the insoluble and soluble fractions of the blood cells, respectively (P < .0001). The authors suggest that St.36 may have a tendency of up-regulation effect on GIT, whereas SP.6, down-regulation effect. However, further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in either acupuncture points need to be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas (PGCM), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), CEP: 20551-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vasco
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Senna-Fernandes
authors.forename: Daisy L M
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Deise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Kelly C M
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Rafael S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Cristiano V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Manoel
authors.forename: Sebastião D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Santos-Filho
authors.forename: Célia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardo-Filho
authors.forename: Marco Antonio M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guimarães