title: Electroacupuncture at ST25 Inhibits Cisapride-Induced Gastric Motility in an Intensity-Dependent Manner.
abstract: Background. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of frequency-specific EAS. However, evaluation of intensity-response effects is challenging and has yet to be addressed. Aims. Using cisapride to promote gastric emptying, we measured the intensity-response relationship of EA at ST25 on gastric motility. Methods. We determined the effects of EA at ST25 using intensities (0.5, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mA) on gastric motility in rats injected with cisapride (0.2, 0.02, and 0.002 mg/kg). Results. Utilizing three concentrations of cisapride yielded significantly differing levels of gastric motility. Furthermore, log IC50 values for EAS were different within each group. Given the same EA intensity, cisapride antagonism decreased progressively in each group as a function of drug concentration. The relative amount of cisapride antagonized by EAS did not change in a linear fashion. Finally, EAS at different intensities within the three groups induced a similar pattern of cisapride antagonism. Conclusions. The ability of EAS to elicit a decrease in cisapride-induced gastric motility pressure was demonstrated in this study. The study encompasses construct validity to mirror individualized treatment being based on patients' subjective feelings, not on a set fixed EA intensity. Clinically utilizing EAS at the smallest intensity can achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Drugs, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Tingting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Drugs, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Chunxia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1986-1188
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Drugs, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Kaiyue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Drugs, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Drugs, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Integrated Acupuncture and Drugs, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu