| Abstract: | Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli"(ST 36) on vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) levels in the peripheral blood, gastric mucosal and brain tissues in experimental gastric injury rats. Methods: Gastric mucosal injury model was established by using cold restraining stress method. 40 Wistar rats were randomly and evenly divided into normal control group, model group, EA group and non acupoint group. VIP contents of plasma and gastric mucosal and medulla oblongata tissues were assayed using radioimmunoassay and gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was measured by employing hydrogen clearing method. Results: In cold restraining stress rats, spot and strip like bleeding necrosis foci in the gastric mucous primarily in the gastric antrum could be seen clearly, GMBF and VIP contents in plasma, gastric mucous and brain tissues declined significantly (P<0.05, 0.01), while the gastric mucosal lesion index (LI) raised significantly (P<0.05) in comparison with those of normal control group. Following EA of "Zusanli" (ST 36), GMBF decreased pronouncedly, VIP contents of the plasma, bulba and gastric mucosal tissues increased strikingly in comparison with model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: EA of "Zusanli" (ST 36) possesses a protection effect on gastric mucous under stress condition and VIP is involved in the effect of EA. |
