针刺申脉穴的fMRI脑功能成像研究

目的:研究针刺申脉穴脑功能变化的规律和激活脑区的定位信息。方法:利用血氧依赖性磁共振成像技术,获得健康志愿者的申脉穴在行针及留针不同针刺状态下的脑功能变化图像,利用SPM信号处理系统,对比分析不同针刺状态下脑功能变化的规律。结果:针刺申脉穴主要激活边缘系统(丘脑、扣带回、海马旁回)和额叶、颞叶等脑区,在行针和留针过程中激活的脑区存在较为明显的规律性变化,在行针过程中首先激活对侧脑区,留针后逐渐由对侧延伸到双侧。结论:激活的脑区可能在申脉穴治疗失眠等心境障碍性疾病时起一定作用。

Observation on Changes of Cerebral Images after Acupuncture of Shenmai (BL 62) by Using fMRI

Objective:To observe the distribution of the activated cerebral regions after acupuncture stimulation of Shenmai (BL 62) by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) technique. Methods: A total of 6 cases of volunteer healthy subjects were recruited for this study. After insertion, the acupuncture needle was twirled about 180° and at a frequency of about 120 times/min for 5 min, and then, retained to the end of each experiment. Before and during manipulation and retention of the needle, cerebral images were sampled separately using a superconductor magnetic resonance scanner and analyzed by using SPM software. Results:During manipulation of the needle inserted in the unilateral Shenmai (BL 62), the highly-activated cerebral structures were limbic system(thalamus, cingulum gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus), middle frontal gyrus, posterior lobe of the cerebellum, etc., on the contralateral side of the brain; interthalamic adhesion, habenular commissure of habenulae, white matter, occipital lobe, etc.; bilateral superior temporal gyrus. During retention of the needle, the highly-activated cerebral structures were bilateral parahippocampal gyrus, dorsal thalamus, cingulum gyrus, superior frontal gyrus, etc.; ipsilateral temporal lobe, amydaloid nucleus, occipital lobe, etc. Five minutes later (from the beginning of retention of the needle), the activated degree of the aforementioned cerebral structures such as parahippocampal gyrus, bilateral posterior lobe of the cerebellum, etc, declined clearly. These results provide spatial and temporal information about the neural activity of different regions of the brain during acupuncture of BL-62 and retention of the needle. Conclusion: The aforementioned results show that some cerebral regions are activated by acupuncture stimulation of Shenmai (BL 62) and may be involved in the therapeutic effect of acupuncture of this acupoint in the treatment of some related diseases.