title: Effect of Zusanli (ST.36) electroacupuncture at two frequencies on the bioavailability of (99m)Tc-sodium pertechnetate and on labeling of blood constituents in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A study was performed on the effects of stimulation at Zusanli-point (ST.36) by electroacupuncture (EA) at two frequencies on the bioavailability of (99m)Tc-sodium pertechnetate (Na(99m)TcO(4)) in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untreated control, treated by manual acupuncture at ST.36 bilaterally, treated by EA at 2 Hz at ST.36 bilaterally, and the same site at 100 Hz bilaterally. Na(99m)TcO(4) (7.4 MBq) was administrated via the ocular-plexus and, 20 minutes before sacrifice, blood was withdrawn for radiolabeling assay (BRL). In the bioavailability analysis, organs and tissues were isolated, their radioactivity determined, and the percentage of injected dose per gram of organ or tissue (%ID/g) and the %ID were calculated for each organ or tissue (%ID/ot). For BRL, the plasma and blood cells isolated, and the fractions also precipitated with 5% trichloroacetic acid to separate the soluble and insoluble fractions; these were assessed as percentage of injected dose (%ID) in blood (%ID/b).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant differences in the %ID/g in some organs and tissues in comparison with controls; lung (p = 0.0013), spleen (p = 0.0085), pancreas (p = 0.0167), liver (p = 0.0003), stomach (p < 0.0001), small-intestine (p = 0.0181), large-intestine (p = 0.04099), urinary-bladder (p = 0.0271), thyroid (p < 0.0001), muscle (p = 0.0187); %ID/ot in spleen (p = 0.0349); and %ID/b in blood sample (p = 0.0235). In the blood labeling analyses, EA in either frequency significantly increased insoluble fraction/blood cells (p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that acupuncture procedures at ST.36 could modulate responses in some organs, tissues, and blood in rats. Further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness in either acupuncture therapy need to be pursued.
authors.affiliation: Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. vascosf888@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Vasco
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Senna-Fernandes
authors.forename: Daisy L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Kelly C M
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Rafael S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Dilson
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Célia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Cortez
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bernardo-Filho
authors.forename: Marco A M
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Guimarães
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D013667:Technetium / Q000032:analysis; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D013667:Technetium; D013670:Sodium Pertechnetate Tc 99m