Study on regulatory effect of acupuncture on rotation-induced gastric dysrhythmia in rabbits

An Li Zhang, Ri Xin Chen, Ming Fei Kang, Hong Li Fan,  Wan Ling Wang

Subject headings  Stomach Acupuncture Electrophysiology Zusanli Neiguan Disease models, animal

Zhang AL, Chen RX, Kang MF, Fan HL, Wang WL. Study on regulatory effect of acupuncture on rotation-induced gastric dysrhythmia in rabbits. China Nati J New Gastroenterol, 1997;3(1):54-55

Abstract

AIM  A model of experimental gastric dysrhythmia in rabbits was set up to evaluate the effect of different acupoints on regulating the gast ric dysrhythmia in rabbits so as to promote the acupuncture treatment for this  kind of disease.

METHODS  A model of gastric dysrhythmia in rabbits was established by rotation method and using basic electrical rhythm (BER) as objective i ndex. After puncturing at the points of Zusanli (ST36), Neiguan (PC6),Tiaokou (ST38), and Tianquan (PC2) respectively, in the four groups of experimental gastri c dysrhythmia rabbits, the difference of regulatory effect on disturbance and fr equency of gastric electric slow wave was observed.

RESULTS  Before needling at the specific acupoints Zusanli and Neiguan, the percentage of disturbance electric slow wave for group Zusanli or for group Neiguan is 57.0785¡À10.644 or 55.5173¡À6.0500; After such needling, the percentage is 43.7823¡À10.1518 for group Zusanli or 43.5147¡À6.8983 fo r group Neiguan, while the frequency of electric slow wave for group Zusanli or for group Neiguan is 2.2870¡À0.3800 or 2.4020¡À0.3536 before needling, and after needling, the frequency is 2.7090¡À0.5865 for group Zusanli or 2.9220¡À0.4923 for group Neiguan. As comparing the percentage and frequency for group  Zusanli or group Neiguan of before needling with that of after needling, the re sult shows that both group Zusanli and group Neiguan have significant difference  statistically (P£¼0.05). But between group Zusanli and group Neiguan, ther e is no significant difference. Before and after needling nonspecific acupoints of Tiaokou and Tianquan, there is no difference between both groups of Tiaokou a nd Tianquan. Between group Zusanli and group Tiaokou or group Neiguan and group Tianquan, there are significant difference in regulating gastric dysrhythmia.

CONCLUSION  The model is suitable for the observation of gastric dysrhythmia. Specific acupoints of Zushanli and Neiguan have good effects on the treatment of gastric dysrhythmia.



INTRODUCTION
Our previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can treat gastric dysrhythmia very well^£Û1£Ý. In order to observe the differences of different acupoints in treating gastric dysrhythmia, we established a model of gastric dysrhythmia by rotation method, and treated the dysrhythmia by puncturing at different  acupoints. In comparing the differences of regulating gastric dysrhythmia betwe en using the specific and nonspecific acupoints it provides an experimental basis for treating motion sickness and gastric dysrhythmia syndrome by acupuncture treatment.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
All of 60 rabbits were implanted with two silver electrodes beneath serous coat 2cm from pylorus of the curvatura ventriculi major side the distance of the two electrodes is 1cm. The conducting wire goes out from the neck. The experiment was carried out after the rabbits were recovered.
    Gastric dysrhythmia model was established by rotation method, the speed of rotating apparatus was 0.5C/S, with rotating in the same direction for 20 minutes.
    The gastric dysrhythmia rabbits were divided randomly into four groups and each group had 15 rabbits, as in specific acupoint Zusanli (ST36) group, Neiguan (PC6) group, and nonspecific acupoint Tiaokou (ST38) group and Tianquan (PC2) group. Each Acupoint was stimulated for 10 minutes with a manipulation given evenly. Recording electrogastrogram (EGG) for 5 minutes before and after acupuncture respectively. In accordance with our previous study, we regarded 3.00-3.95 C.P. M as normal slow wave frequency, and out of this range it was regarded as abnormal slow wave frequency. The experimental data were calculated by using t test.

RESULTS
Rabbits after fasting for 12 hours were studied. The rabbits¡ä eyes were vibrate d with head and body shaking after the rabbits were rotated for 20 minutes. The EGG showed that before rotation, the percentage of disturbance slow wave was 36 .051¡À8.0388, frequency was 3.3426¡À0.2523 C.P.M and after rotation, the per centage of disturbance wave was 51.6914¡À5.9842, frequency was 2.670¡À0.4541  C.P.M. Comparing before and after rotation, the percentage of disturbance wave and frequency was significantly improved (P£¼0.001), and the disturbance of  EGG can last more than two hours.

Regulatory effect of acupuncture on gastric dysrhythmia by using different acupoints
Before acupuncture, there was no significant difference on percentage of disturbance slow wave and frequency of the four groups (P£¾0.05). After acupuncture, the gastric dysrthythmia in Zusanli group and Neiguan group was greatly improved and almost recovered to normal. Zusanli and Neiguan had similar regulatory effect. In comparing before and after acupuncture in Tiaokougroup and Tianquan group respectively, there was no significant improvement of gastric dysrhythmia (P£¾0.05). There appeared some differences between Zusanli group and Tiaokou group. Zusanli had better regulatory effect than Tiaokou and Neiguan  had better regulatory effect than Tianquan.

The significance of rotation induced model
In previous study, researchers often use injection or operation to establish gastric dysrhythmia model. These methods are useful, but have limitations in a cert ain degree, for they may disturb or even destroy the subjects¡ä neuro hormone regulatory system and are usually not consistent with the disease in clinical practice.
    Our study by viewing the situation as a whole is to imitate the pathogenesis of motion sickness, and disturb the vestibular system by rotating so as to establish gastric dysrhythmia model in rabbits. The model is steady and easy to repeat, and suitable for investigation of the acupuncture effects on gastric dys rhythmia.

Specific of acupoints
Based on TCM theory, the acupoints have their functions in common and specific a cupoints have their specific character. The effects of acupuncture are closely related with different acupoints for different disease. Zusanli having sophisticated function on regulating gastric dysrythmia is more indicated for treating gastric disorder. Tiaokou group served as control group. The result showed that the acupuncture effect of Zusanli is better than its same channel nonspecific acupoint Tiaokou, thus Zusanli has its specific effect on gastric disorder.
    For a long time, many researchers had paid more attention to using Neiguan to treat cardiac disease, but few reports on treating gastric diseases. Our study showed that Neiguan has fine effects on treating gastric diseases and has better effect than the nonspecific acupoint Tianquan has.

¹Department of Acupunctureª²Moxibustion and Osteotraumatology of J iangxi College of TCMª¤
²Postgraduate student of Jiangxi College of TCM
ZHANG An Li, female, born in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, graduated from TCM Department of Jiangxi College of TCM in 1967, professor, Director of Teaching Department of Acupunctureª²Moxibustion and Osteotraumatology and Acupunture Department, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi College of TCM; Adviser of postgraduate students of Master Degree, engaged in studying on diagnosis and treatment of gastroenteropathy, having more than 20 papers and one book (ZI WU LIU ZHU KAI XUE ZHI NAN) (Editor in Chief) published.
Address: 20 Yang Ming Rd. Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006 China.
*This study was supported by Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Fund (No.9281).
Correspondence to  Dr ZHANG An Liª¤
Tel:86¡¤791¡¤6816996.
Received  8th March, 1996.