title: [Effect of electroacupuncture on the uterine microcirculation in dysmenorrhea rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on uterine microcirculation in dysmenorrhea rats so as to investigate its mechanism underlying relieving primary dysmenorrheal (PD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Female SD rats undergoing diestrus were randomly divided into saline control, model, Sanyinjiao(SP 6), Xuanzhong(GB 39) and non-acupoint groups, with 6 rats in each. PD model was established by subcutaneous injection of estradiol benzoate for 10 days and intra-peritoneal injection of oxytocin (2 U) 1 h after the last estradiol injection. EA (2 Hz/100 Hz, 1- 1.5 mA) was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints and non-acupoint area for 20 minutes. Numbers and diameters of the uterine microvessels (11-100 microm) and capillaries (< or =10 microm), and the state of the uterine microcirculation were observed by using a Cold Light Microcirculation Detector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the saline control group, the numbers and diameters of uterine microvessels and capillaries at the corresponding time-points 5 min, 10 min and 20 min were decreased significantly in the model group (P<0. 05,P<0. 01). While compared with the model group, the numbers and diameters of uterine microvessels and capillaries at 20 min after EA in the SP 6 group were increased significantly (P<0. 05). The diameter of uterus capillaries of SP 6 group was significantly bigger than that of the non-acupoint group at the time-point 20 min (P<0. 05). No significant differences were found among the SP 6, GB 39 and non-acupoint groups in the diameter of uterine microvessels (P>0. 05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA of SP 6 can effectively increase the number of uterine microvessels and capillaries and the diameter of the uterine microvessels and capillaries in PD rats, which may contribute to its effect in relieving dysmenorrhea by improving uterine microcirculation.
authors.affiliation: School of Acu-moxibustion and Tuina , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China. lichunhua07@126.com
authors.forename: Chun-hua
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ya-fang
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Xiao-xuan
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Meng-wei
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Xi-yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Lin-lin
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Lu-fen
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004412:Dysmenorrhea / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply*