title: Effects of electro-acupuncture on 5-HT, NOS and the gastric mucosa of stress rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HT) levels, nitrous oxide (NOS) levels, nitric oxide (NO) levels, and the gastric mucosa in stress rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The changes of 5-HT and NOS were measured in the gastric mucosa, and NO and 5-HT were measured in the serum by biochemical methods. The gastric mucosa was examined pathohistologically in the stress rats with gastric mucosa damage after EA. The changes before and after stress by EA were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EA decreased the gastric mucosa damage index in the stress rats (2.71 ± 0.40 to 1.86 ± 0.69, P < 0.01). EA normalized NOS level in gastric mucosa to the control group. The changes before stress by EA was more obvious than that after stress. EA lowered the 5-HT levels in the gastric mucosa (μg/g wet weight, 6.91 ± 3.08 to 4.51 ± 1.62, P < 0.01). EA recovered the NO level in serum of the stress rats (μmol/L, 5.78 ± 1.49 to 7.91 ± 1.11, P < 0.05), and increased the levels of 5-HT and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in serum continuously.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA stimulation normalizes the NOS and NO levels in the gastric mucosa of stress rats. EA also lowers the high 5-HT levels and induces NO release.
authors.affiliation: Shun-Li Zhu, Guan-Sun Xu, Zhen-Jiu Wang, Quan-Zhu Chen, Jie Jiao, Institute of Acupuncture and Meridians, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Shun-Li Zhu, Guan-Sun Xu, Zhen-Jiu Wang, Quan-Zhu Chen, Jie Jiao, Institute of Acupuncture and Meridians, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Shun-Li Zhu, Guan-Sun Xu, Zhen-Jiu Wang, Quan-Zhu Chen, Jie Jiao, Institute of Acupuncture and Meridians, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Z J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shun-Li Zhu, Guan-Sun Xu, Zhen-Jiu Wang, Quan-Zhu Chen, Jie Jiao, Institute of Acupuncture and Meridians, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: Q Z
authors.initials: QZ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Shun-Li Zhu, Guan-Sun Xu, Zhen-Jiu Wang, Quan-Zhu Chen, Jie Jiao, Institute of Acupuncture and Meridians, Anhui College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230038, Anhui Province, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jiao
keywords: Aminoacid oxidoreductases/acu-moxibustion effects; Electroacupuncture; Gastric mucosa/Acu-moxibustion effects; Serotonin/acu-moxibustion effects