Effects of electroacupuncture at shu-points of the five zang-organs on electrophysiologic function of sciatic nerve in the rabbit of Guillain-Barre syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the mechanism of electroacupuncture at shu-points of the five zang-organs for treatment of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). METHODS: Eighty healthy giant-ear white rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups, a blank group, a model group, an electroacupuncture (EA) group and an immunoglobulin group, 20 rabbits in each group. The internationally recognized P 2 immune rabbit model was used in the study. The EA group were treated with EA at shu-points of the five zang-organs and the immunoglobulin group with intravenous injection of immunoglobulin 80 mg/kg/day. The sciatic nerve movement conduction velocity (MCV) and F wave incidence rate were investigated respectively at the 7th and 14th days of treatment in the rabbits of GBS. RESULTS: The sciatic nerve MCV significantly reduced in the model group, and it significantly increased (P < 0.01) and F wave abnormal cases was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) after treatment for 14 days in the EA group as compared with those in the model group. CONCLUSION: EA at shu-points of the five zang-organs can increase the sciatic nerve MCV and decrease the abnormal F wave incidence rate of the sciatic nerve in the rabbit of GBS.