Abstract
The acupuncture effect of manual stimulation at the acupoints Neiguan (PL-6) and Zu-sang-li (ST-36) on mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) was investigated in rats anesthetized with i.p. pentobarbital injection followed by continuous infusion of 1% pentobarbital-PBS-solution (0.5-0.8ml/h) intravenously. Ventilation of the animal was artificially applied and body temperature was kept at normal level.Manual acupuncture (MA) was applied for 30 s with a frequency of 2 HZ by inserting a needle into the left side of PL-6 and ST-36 in the fore limb and hind limb. Three different types of MA were applied: 1) twisting needle from left to right; 2) lifting and thrusting needle; and 3) combination of 1) and 2). MAP was used as an indicator to judge the effect of MA. The results showed that the MAP was decreased but fluctuated in intact rats, and intensively decreased in all cases after vagotomy during MA at PL-6, ST-36, respectively. The reduction of MAP was slightly apparent during MA with type 1, and reinforced significantly during MA with type 2 and 3 at PL-6 or ST-36. The MAP response was significant higher during MA at PL-6 rather then St-36. Meanwhile, the reductions of MAP were completely abolished during MA at either PL-6 or ST-36 after spinalization. The above results suggest that MA at either PL-6 or ST-36 can reduce the blood pressure in anesthetized rats, and modulatory site for such an effect by MA in its central pathways is superspinal. (Financial support: FSMCST: 06DZ19732; 973 Program: 2005CB523306) [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S53]
