title: [Effects of gap junction blocking on the oxygen partial pressure in acupoints of the bladder meridian].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the relation between gap junction and meridian phenomenon.
  
  
  METHODS
  The oxygen partial pressure in acupoints [see text for formula] and in their corresponding non-acupoints of the Bladder Meridian was observed with the needle-type tissue oxygen tension sensor in the gap junction blocking goats by 1-Heptanol injection and the Connexin 43 (Cx43) gene knockout mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The oxygen partial pressure in acupoints of Bladder Meridian on goats was higher than that in non-acupoints after 1-Heptanol injection with significant differences between them (both P < 0.01). (2) The oxygen partial pressure in acupoints of Bladder Meridian on goats increased significantly after injecting 1-Heptanol as compare with that either injecting normal saline or injecting nothing with significant differences between them (all P < 0.01). (3) The oxygen partial pressure in acupoints of the Bladder Meridian was significantly higher than that in the non-acupoint controls in Cx43 wild type (WT) mice (all P < 0.01). In Cx43 heterozygote (HT) mice, the oxygen partial pressure between acupoints and non-acupoint controls showed no significant differences (all P > 0.05). (4) In acupoints, the oxygen partial pressure in Cx43 WT mice was significantly higher than that in Cx43 HT mice (all P < 0.05), while in the corresponding non-acupoints, this difference had no statistically significant (all P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gap junction maybe the essential factor in signal transduction of acupuncture.
authors.affiliation: Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Institute of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan 430030, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wei-Chang
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Hong-Zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Sheng-Li
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Min
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: E-Sheng
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Guang-Ying
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D018031:Connexin 43 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006041:Goats; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D023421:Models, Animal; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018031:Connexin 43; D010100:Oxygen