電気鍼の血清 Gastrin 濃度に及ぼす影響

抄録

Although it is known that acupuncture works to normalize the digestive function. Details of its mechanism are still unclear. It is estimated, however, that gastrointestinal hormones such as gastrin play an important role in controlling smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrin also facilitates the secretion from the stomach and pancreas. Therefore the effects of acupuncture on digestive function were examined by observing the serum concentrations of gastrin, amylase and lypase in 39 human volunteers who had been fasting and resting since the evening of the day before (the acupuncture group). Acupuncture needles were inserted into the “Rokou (H₆4)” (right) and “Shou-sannli (H₆10)” (right) at 9:00 a.m., and electrical stimulation with 1-Hz square wave pulses was applied to these needles for 30min. Blood samples were collected from the basilic vein of the left forearm of every subject before and 60 and 120min after the start of acupuncture stimulation. Blood samples were also taken from seven subjects of the control group, in whom no acupuncture needles were inserted. The sera were separated immediately and frozen until they were measured. In the acupuncture group, significant increases in gastrin, amylase and lypase were observed after the acupuncture stimulation. In the control group, however, no significant increases in gastrin, amylase or lypase were noted. These results suggest that the effects of acupuncture on digestive function are mediated by gastro-intestinal hormones such as gastrin. In other words, the increase in gastrin following acupuncture may stimulate the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and facilitate the production and secretion of amylase and lypase.