EFFECT OF ELECTROACUPUNCTURE ON GASTRIC FUNCTIONAL ACTIVITY IN THE RAT

Subjective: To investigate the mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) in regulating the gastric activity in rats. Methods: 64 SD rats were randomly divided into group A and B, both of which were further divided into EA subgroup a and b (n = 8&;#215;2), sciatotomy + EA subgroup a and b ( n = 8&;#215;2), vagotomy + EA subgroup a and b (n = 8&;#215;2) and control subgroup a and b (n = 8&;#215;2). Rats of the 4 subgroups of group A were used for observing changes of c-fos expression, while those of the 4 subgroups of group B used for analyzing changes of electrogastrogram (EGG). Left Zusanli (ST 36) was punctured and stimulated for 30 min using a 6805-A EA Therapeutic Apparatus by setting the parameters as intermittent waves, frequency of 50 Hz and strength of 20 V. Changes of c-fos expression in the nucleus of tractus solitarius (NTS) and dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMV) of the medullary bulb were detected by using immunohistochemical method and the effect of EA on EGG using electrophysiological method in 846-mixture anesthetized rats. Results: After EA of Zusanli(ST 36), the expression of c-fos in NTS and DMV changed significantly and marked changes were observed in the gastric electro-activity. Conclusion: Electro-acupuncture can regulate gastric activity by activating neurons of NTS and DMV.