针刺对大鼠"足三里"穴缝隙连接蛋白Cx43表达的影响

目的:观察大鼠"足三里"穴与非经非穴处缝隙连接蛋白Cx43的表达及针刺对该表达的影响,探讨缝隙连接蛋白与穴位的可能关系.方法:20只健康成年SD大鼠随机分为非针刺组、针刺组,每组10只;应用荧光双重标记免疫组织化学方法和激光扫描共聚焦显微镜技术对"足三里"穴、非经非穴处皮肤组织Cx43进行定位、定量分析.结果:皮肤组织中Cx43主要在上皮细胞胞浆、胞膜上表达,包括皮肤表皮和部分毛囊等上皮角质形成细胞;非针刺组中穴位处Cx43的表达显著高于非经非穴处(P＜0.01),针刺组中穴位针刺后Cx43表达显著增加,与非针刺组中穴位比较差异有非常显著性意义(P＜0.01).结论:缝隙连接蛋白及缝隙连接可能是穴位的主要组成成分,且针刺能明显增加缝隙连接蛋白在穴位处的表达.

Effect of acupuncture on expression of connexion 43 in "Zusanli" (ST 36) ofthe rat

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and non-channel-non-acupoint on expression of connexion 43 in the rat, so as to probe into possible relationship between the acupoint and connexion 43 (Cx43). METHODS: Twenty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a non-acupuncture group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. Quantity and distribution of Cx43 on skin tissue of "Zusanli" and non-channel-non-acupoint were detected by immunohistochemistry with a fluorescence double-label technique and laser scanning confocal microscope. RESULTS: Cx43 was mainly expressed in epidermis, hair follicles and other epithelial keratinocytes; the expression of Cx43 in the acupoint was significantly higher than that at the non-channel-non-acupoint in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.01); after acupuncture at acupoint expression of Cx43 in the acupuncture group significantly increased, with a very significant difference as compared with that in the acupoint in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Connexion 43 and gap junctions in acupoint are possibly the main components of acupoints, and acupuncture can significantly increase expression of connexion 43 in acupoints.