Search

The objectification of " Deqi " of acupuncture is a hot topic in acupuncture research at present, and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the most frequently-used techniques for revealing its brain responses. We searched literature about " Deqi " from PubMed in recent 10 years by using key words " Deqi ""acupuncture sensation""needling sensation" and fMRI, trying to expound the central mechanism of " Deqi " and to put forward our understandings. Acupuncture " Deqi " evoked deactivation of the limbic-paralimbic-neocortical network (LPNN)/ default mode network (DMN), including medial prefrontal cortex (frontal pole, anterior cingulate), temporal lobe (amygdala, hippocampus, parahippocampus gyrus, temporal pole), and apparent activation of brain regions as the somatosensory cortex, thalamic-somatosensory area-insular lobe, orbitofrontal cortex, etc., which may enhance the connectivity of brain networks and function in analgesia, anti-anxiety, anti-depression, etc., but the activated and deactivated brain regions are different from study to study possibly due to the stimulated different acupoints, subjects' psychophysical conditions, scanning parameters, image acquiring sequences, etc. It is recommended that the coming stu-dies should pay more attention to the influence of acupuncture " Deqi " on brain functions in subjects suffering from diseases, the brain response characteristics of the longer post-effects and the accumulated effects of acupuncture treatment.

Objective: To observe the influence of acupuncture on neuroendocrine in rats with primary dysmenorrhea, so as to explore its underlying mechanism in relieving dysmenorrhea., Methods: Forty female Wistar rats were equal randomized into control, model, acupuncture and Extractum Leonuri Inspissatum (ELI) groups, with 10 cases in each. Primary dysmenorrhea model was established by intragastric perfusion of diethylstilbestrol (3 mg/kg), once daily for 12 days. "Guanyuan" (CV 4), bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Diji" (SP 8) were punctured once daily for 7 days. ELI (80 g/kg) was given to rats of ELI group via gastrogavage, once daily for 7 days. On the 12th day, the rats of 4 groups were given with oxytocin (14 U/kg, i.p.) for inducing dysmenorrhea. The latency and incidence rate of writhing within 30 min were observed. The serum levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P) were detected by radioimmunoassay, and the expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) mRNA in hypothalamus and ovary, GnRH receptor (GnRH-R) mRNA in pituitary, estrodiol receptor (ER) mRNA and progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA in uterus were determined using RT-PCR., Results: After modeling, the writhing latency shortened considerably and the writhing times, serum FSH, LH and E2 levels increased apparently, and serum P content decreased markedly (P<0.05). Compared with model group, the writhing times, serum FSH, LH, and E2 contents in acupuncture and ELI groups reduced significantly (P<0.05), while the writhing latency and serum P contents in acupuncture and ELI groups increased remarkably (P<0.05). Compared with control group, hypothalamic GnRH mRNA, ovary GnRH mRNA, pituitary GnRH-R mRNA and uterus ER mRNA expressions in model group were up-regulated significantly, while uterus PR mRNA was down-regulated markedly in model group (P<0.05). In comparison with model group, hypothalamic GnRH mRNA, ovary GnRH mRNA, pituitary GnRH-R mRNA and uterus ER mRNA expressions in acupuncture and ELI groups were suppressed significantly (P<0.05), while uterus PR mRNA expressions in the later two groups were up-regulated obviously (P<0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture of CV4, SP6 and SP8 can effectively relieve dysmenorrhea in the rat, which may be closely related to its effects in regulating neuroendocrine activities and the related receptor expression of hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis.

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on dysmenorrhea response of Cx43 knock out mice., Methods: Two-months-old heterozygote [Cx43(+/-)] type and wild type [Cx43(+/+)] female mice (20 mice/type) were allocated into normal group, model group, acupuncture group and Yimucao Gao (Extractum Leonuri Inspissatum) group randomly. Dysmenorrheal model was established by feeding the mouse with diethylstilbestrol (2 mg/g) once daily for 12 days. Ocytocin (i. p. 2 U/kg) was injected on the 12th day 1 h later after the feeding. Acupuncture of "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Diji" (SP 8) was given to mice of acupuncture group, once daily for 5 days from the 7th day on after modeling. The latency of body-writhing and the writhing number were measured. Ocytocin receptor (Oct-R) mRNA and vasopressin receptor (Vas-R) mRNA expression in the uterus tissue was detected by using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique, and Oct-R expression was detected with immunohistochemistry after fixating and sectioning the uterus tissue., Results: In comparison with their individual normal group, the latency of body-writhing of model groups in Cx43 (+/+) and Cx43 (+/-) mice shortened considerably, while the writhing number increased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with the corresponding model group, the writhing latencies of acupuncture and Yimucao Gao groups in Cx43 (+/+) mice and that of Yimucao Gao group in Cx43 (+/-) mice increased remarkably, and the writhing numbers of acupuncture and Yimucao Gao groups in Cx43 (+/+) mice and that of Yimucao Gao group in Cx43 (+/-) mice reduced markedly (P<0.05). In Cx43 (+/+) and Cx43 (+/-) mice, compared with their individual normal group, Oct-R and Vas-R mRNA expressions and Oct-R expression in model group were upregulated obviously (P<0.05). Compared with the corresponding model group, Oct-R and Vas-R mRNA expressions and Oct-R expression of acupuncture and Yimucao Gao groups in Cx43 (+/+) mice, and those of Yimucao Gao group in Cx43 (+/-) mice were down-regulated significantly (P<0.05). No significant differences were found between acupuncture and corresponding model groups in Cx43 (+/-) mice in the above-mentioned indexes (P>0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture can inhibit diethylstilbestrol + ocytocin induced body writhing response in Cx43 (+/+) mice rather than in Cx43 (+/-) mice, which is closely related to its effects in down-regulating Oct-R mRNA, Vas-R mRNA and Oct-R expression.

Objective: To explore the effect of connexin 43 gene knockout on acupuncture analgesia., Methods: Seventy-two wide type (WT) and connexin 43 gene knockout mice were separately and randomly divided into: WT control group, WT model group, WT acupuncture group, heterozygous (HT) control group, HT model group and HT acupuncture group, with 12 cases in each. Visceral pain model was established by intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid. "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) were punctured with a filiform needle for 30 min and stimulated by manipulating the needle 30 s every 5 min. The expression of c-fos in the spinal dorsal horn was assayed by using RT-PCR and western blot techniques., Results: There was no significant difference between HT and WT control mice in relative grey value of spinal c-fos mRNA expression (P>0.05), in which few c-fos mRNA and protein expressed. The expression of c-fos mRNA and protein was increased significantly following intraperitoneal acetic acid injection compared with control groups in both HT and WT mice (P<0.01). And no significant difference was found between HT and WT model groups in c-fos mRNA expression (P>0.05). Compared with WT model group, the expression of both c-fos mRNA and c-fos protein in WT acupuncture group was down-regulated significantly (P<0.01). In comparison with HT model group, the expression of both c-fos mRNA and protein in HT acupuncture group was down-regulated but without statistically significant difference (P>0.05). And the expression of c-fos mRNA and protein in HT acupuncture group was significantly higher than that in WT acupuncture group (P<0.05, 0.01)., Conclusion: Acupuncture has a marked antinociceptive effect in visceral pain mice, and simultaneously suppresses the expression of c-fos mRNA and protein evoked by noxious stimulation in the spinal dorsal horn. Connexin 43 gene knockout may weaken acupuncture analgesia and reduce EA-induced down-regulation of c-fos expression, suggesting an involvement of connexin 43 in the analgesic effect of acupuncture.

Objective: To explore the relationship between energy metabolism and meridian phenomenon. Methods Ten Boer hybridism goats mitigated under chlorpromazine (0.85 mg/kg, intramuscular injection) were subjected to the present study. Changes of oxygen partial pressure (PO2) in "Ganshu" (BL 18), "Dachangshu" (BL 25) and "Guanyuanshu" (BL 26) of Bladder Meridian and in 3 non-acupoints (3 cm apart from BL18, BL25 and BL26 separately on the unilateral side) were recorded by using a needle-type tissue oxygen tension sensor before and following local injection of EDTA-Na2 (200 microL, 0.05 kg/mol, for complexing Ca2+) and 0.9% saline., Results: (1) Compared with the corresponding non-acupoints, Ca2+ potentials in BL18, BL25 and BL26 were all significantly higher (P < 0.05, 0.01). (2) In comparison with the corresponding non-acupoints, the values of tissue PO2 of BL18 and BL26 were significantly higher (P < 0.01). (3) After injection of EDTA-Na2, PO2 values in both BL18, BL26, and their respective non-acupoints increased significantly in comparison with those of either injection of saline or their respective basal values (P < 0.01, 0.05). Compared with those of their corresponding non-acupoints PO2 values in both BL18 and BL26 increased markedly (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: Ca2+ potential of the Bladder Meridian was significantly higher than that of non-acupoints, and after complexing Ca2+, PO2 in acupoints and non-acupoints increased markedly, suggesting that Ca2+ may play an important role in meridian signaling and production of acupuncture effect.

Objective: To explore the possible central and peripheral mechanisms of connexin 43 gene knockout in acupuncture analgesia., Methods: Fifty-four wide type (WT) mice and 54 connexin 43 gene knockout (heterozygote, HT) mice were randomly divided into WT control group, WT model group, WT acupuncture group, HT control group, HT model group and HT acupuncture group (n = 18/group). Visceral pain model was established by intraperitoneal injection of 0.6% acetic acid (0. 1 mL/10 g). "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) were punctured with filiform needles and stimulated for 30 min by manipulating the needle for 30 s every 5 min. The latency and the number of body-writhing response were observed and the contents of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) in hypothalamus and serum prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were detected with radioimmunoassay (RIA)., Results: There was no significant difference in the latency and the number of body-writhing response, and contents of hypothalamic beta-EP and serum PGE2 between HT and WT control groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the corresponding control groups, the latency of body-writhing in WT model and HT model groups shortened significantly and the number of body- writhing increased considerably in two model groups (P < 0.01). While in comparison with WT model group, the latency of body-writhing prolonged significantly and the number of body-writhing decreased apparently in WT acupuncture group (P < 0.01); but no marked differences were found between HT model and HT acupuncture groups in these two indexes (P > 0.05). Compared with the corresponding control groups, the contents of both beta-EP and PGE2 increased obviously in WT model and HT model groups (P < 0.05). In comparison with WT model group, beta-EP levels in WT acupuncture group increased further significantly (P < 0.05), and serum PGE2 in WT acupuncture group decreased obviously (P < 0.05); but no significant changes were found between HT model and HT acupuncture groups in beta-EP and PGE2 levels (P > 0.05)., Conclusion: Acupuncture has a marked antinociceptive effect in WT mice with visceral pain, which may be related to its effects in increasing hypothalamic beta-EP and decreasing serum PGE2; while in connexin 43 gene knockout mice, all the above-mentioned effects of acupuncture are eliminated, indicating an important role of connexin 43 in the analgesic effect of acupuncture.

Objective: To observe the influence of acupuncture on the immune function in immunosuppressive Cx43 knockout mice so as to explore the relationship between connexin 43 (Cx43) and acupuncture signal transmission., Methods: Eighteen male Cx43 knockout mice (Cx43 + / -, 8-9 weeks old) and eighteen wide-type mice (Cx43 + / + ) were divided into normal group, model group and acupuncture group randomly, with 6 cases in each. The immunosuppressive mice model was established by intraperitoneal injection of Cyclophosphamide. Mice in acupuncture group were treated with manual acupuncture of "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Guanyuan" (CV 4), once daily for 7 days. Spleen index, thymus index, number of leukocytes in the peripheral blood were calculated and the percentage of T lymphocyte subpopulation was detected by using flow cytometry., Results: Compared with normal control group, the spleen index, thymus index and leukocyte number of model group in both Cx43 + / + mice and Cx43 + / - mice were obviously lower (P < 0.05, 0.01), while in Cx43 + / + mice and in comparison with model group, the spleen index, thymus index and leukocyte number of acupuncture group were significantly higher (P < 0.05, 0.01) and no significant differences were found between acupuncture group and control group (P > 0.05). But in Cx43 + / - mice , no obvious differences were found between acupuncture and model groups in the aforementioned 3 indexes (P > 0.05), showing a disappearance of the effect of acupuncture in raising immune function after Cx43 knockout. There were no obvious differences between two control groups and between two model groups in the 3 indexes of Cx43 + / + mice and Cx43 + / - mice. The immune function of Cx43 + / + mice was obviously stronger than that of Cx43 + / - mice in acupuncture group., Conclusion: Knockout of Cx43 gene inhibits the effect of acupuncture in reinforcing mouse immunity, suggesting an important role of Cx43 in the transmission of acupuncture signals for adjusting immunity function.

The essence of meridian-collateral system is one of the momentous theoretical topics of the life science. In recent years, many authors have been trying to elucidate various kinds of meridian phenomenon from different points of view including physics, chemistry, biology, traditional Chinese medicine, modern science and so on. The physical detection results intuitively indicated biophysics specificities of meridians, including electricity, heat, sound, light, magnesium, the migration of the injected isotope along the running route of meridians and so on. Results of the studies on chemical materials (ion, PO2, neurotransmitters) within the tissues along the meridian and those of cell junction communications showed that some chemical substances have a close relation with the meridian activities. This review summarizes recent research results on meridian and acupoints from biophysics and biochemistry in order to have a comprehensive understanding in this field.