title: [Influence of acupuncture or thermal acupuncture stimulation at "Zusanli" (ST 36) on thoracic duct lymph volume and the relevant chemical substances in normal rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the changes of thoracic duct lymph volume and the contents of histamine (HA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), etc. in the lymph after acupuncture or thermal acupuncture interventions, in order to investigate the effect of lymphatic system in transmitting acupuncture and moxibustion signals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 45 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, acupuncture group, and thermal acupuncture (acupuncture with the needle warmed by burning moxa) group (n = 15/group). The rat thoracic duct lymphatic fistula model was replicated. Acupuncture or thermal acupuncture was applied to "Zusanli" (ST 36), and the changes of thoracic duct lymph volume and the concentrations of HA, 5-HT in the lymph were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the thoracic duct lymph volume in acupuncture group and thermal acupuncture group were obviously increased (P < 0.05), while the concentrations of lymph HA and 5-HT in both acupuncture and thermal acupuncture groups had no significant changes (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both acupuncture and thermal acupuncture interventions can increase the thoracic duct lymph volume, but have no effects on lymph HA and 5-HT contents in normal rats.
authors: Research Center for Experimental Acupuncturology of Tianjin University of Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China. lizhzh2008@163.com
authors: Zhong-Zheng
authors: ZZ
authors: Li
authors: Jing-Zi
authors: JZ
authors: Chen
authors: Yi
authors: Y
authors: Guo
authors: Yong-Ming
authors: YM
authors: Guo
authors: Yang-Yang
authors: YY
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D006632:Histamine / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008196:Lymph / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D013897:Thoracic Duct / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D006632:Histamine