Effect Of Acupuncture At KI3 On Cerebral Function Imaging

BackgroundAcupoints, which are in the line of fourteen meridians (twelve meridians, Conception and governor vessels), belongs to a certain meridian and have clear rule of treatment effect. They are an important part of acupuncture study. Acupuncture, as a clinical therapy for treatment, have several thousand years of history, but the therapeutic mechanism is still not clear. Acupuncturing in the special point, as a kind of outside stimulation, may activate specific part of central nervous system firstly, then control our nerve, endocrine and fluid network, and influence the target organs finally. A lot of research results has confirmed that peripheral organs had a close relationship with brain. Pro. LAI Xinsheng put forward:"acupoints-brain relation hypothesis"—Human body as an organism, the reaction and regulating action of acupuncture for target organs should through the adjustment and integration of our central system—brain (transportation and transformation of information), thus realize the treatment effect.The 21st century is "the century of the brain". Brain science is a front subject in the world science. The great progress of brain technology have created favorable conditions for the exploring of the secret effect between acupoints and brain. Following the development of brain imaging, especially for the technology of positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging have become more and more mature, the study of acupuncture on central system entered a new field. Unlike the previous technology, cerebral function imaging could be used for the study of acupuncture on brain functional state dynamically, which are in non-invasive state, and in the level of living and holistic. Functional visualization has become true. Traditional Chinese medicine pays more attention to the holistic functional features of our body in physiological and pathological states. Functional visualization method has special significance in the mechanism study of acupuncture. ObjectiveOn the basis of systematic review of the literature, to observe the effect of acupuncture KI6 on cerebral function imaging in MCI patients and AD model rats. From clinical trails to animal experiment, to compared acupoint with sham point, and to objectively test the existence of the specificities of acupoints-brain. Meanwhile, to investigate the relation between acupoints and brain, and to add new theoretical ideas for the treatment mechanism study of acupuncture in clinic. MethodsPathological state of the memory decline as a research vehicle. Yuan (source) point in the kidney meridian of Foot Shaoyin-KI3 as study points. Randomized controlled rule was followed in this study. In clinical trial, to observe the difference of the brain resting state fMRI between MCI patients and normal people, in order to identify the blood oxygenation level in pathological brain regions. Then to observe the influence of twisting Taixi (KI3) on the brain functional magnetic resonance imaging, and compare with sham point, to deeper elucidate the specificities of acupuncture at acupoints KI3 in pathological states. In animal experiments, the small animal PET technique and compound AD rat model, which was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-galactose and bilateral nbM injection of Ibotenic acid(IBO), were adopted. To observe the effect of acupuncture at acupoints KI3 and sham point on brain glucose metabolism in AD rat model. Statistical analysis, the Y-maze data was analyzed by the method of repetitive measure anova, and the imaga data was analyzed by SPM2 based on voxel-based analysis method.ResultsIn clinical trial, on the one hand, in the rest state of fMRI, compared with normal group, the level of the blood oxygenation metabolism in MCI group patients decreased significantly in frontal lobe(BA6), limbic lobe(BA24) and temporal lobe(BA38). On the other hand, acupuncture at KI3 activated not only the pathological region (BA6), but also other regions, such as frontal lobe, parietal lobe, temporal lobe and insula. Acupuncture at sham point activated some barin regions, such as parietal lobe (BA 40) and temporal lobe(BA22).In animal experiments, the compound AD rats appeared pathological characteristics of aging and meynert nucleus damaged:slow-moving, hypotrichosis and learning and memory decline. On brain activity, compared with normal group, the level of glucose metabolism of MCI group rats decreased significantly in basal nucleus of the Meynert (nbM). Five weeks after successful modeling, compared with three weeks before modeling, the level of glucose metabolism of model group rats increased significantly in hippocampus, mesencephalon, limbic system, corpus callosum, parietal lobe, and so on.Immediate acupuncture at righe KI3 of AD mordel rats could activate the brain glucose metabolism in amygdaloid body, insular lobe, limbic system, hippocampus, striatum, and so on. Compared with sham point group, the brain glucose metabolism increased mainly focus on amygdaloid body, insular lobe, limbic system and striatum.After acupuncture at righe KI3 three weeks, compared with model group, the brain glucose metabolism increased mainly focus on parietal Lobe, corpus callosum, occipital Lobe and Limbic System. Compared with sham point group, the brain glucose metabolism increased mainly focus on anterior Lobe, temporal Lobe and hippocampus. ConclusionAcupuncture at KI3 could activate corresponding pathological brain regions of subjects. This effect was liked the relationship from point to side, and had double effects:targeting activation and wide activation. This targeting effect indicated the specificities of acupoints for treatment effect, and wide effect showed the concept of holism, which was the basic characteristic of acupunture in TCM. These results confirm the validity of "acupoints-brain relation hypothesis" to some degree.