title: Differential effects of variable frequencies of manual acupuncture at ST36 in rats with atropine-induced inhibition of gastric motility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The 'intensity-response' relationship between acupuncture stimulation and therapeutic effect is currently the focus of much research interest. The same needling manipulation with different frequencies can generate differential levels of stimulus. This study aimed to examine the effects on gastric motility induced by four twirling frequencies based on relatively standardised manual acupuncture (MA) manipulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twirling manipulations at 1, 2, 3, and 4 Hz were practised before the experiments by a single operator using an MA parameter measurement device and stability was evaluated through time-frequency analysis. Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups (n=8 each): Control, Model, Model+MA (1, 2, 3, and 4 Hz). Rats in the five Model groups received injections of atropine into the tail vein to inhibit gastric motility, which was continuously recorded by a balloon in the gastric antrum. Rats in the four Model+MA groups received MA at 1, 2, 3 and 4 Hz, respectively, for 70 s and needles were retained for a further 5 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amplitude of waveforms produced by the four twirling frequencies was relatively consistent and reproducible. The gastric motility amplitude in all groups decreased after modelling (injections of atropine) (p<0.01). Twirling manipulation at 1, 2, and 3 Hz (but not 4 Hz) increased gastric motility amplitude (p<0.05). The increase in gastric motility amplitude induced by MA at 2 Hz was greater than for all other frequencies (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acupuncture at ST36 helped recover gastric motility amplitude in rats with atropine-induced gastric inhibition and the effects induced by 1-3 Hz frequency were greater than those induced by 4 Hz.
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sha
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Yang-Yang
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Precision Instruments & Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Bei
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Acupuncture Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture and Massage, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Shou-Hai
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: School of Precision Instruments & Optoelectronics Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ming
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013270:Stomach / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001285:Atropine
keywords: ACUPUNCTURE