Of Different Central Nervous System Areas On Participating In The Regulation Of Gastric Function By Acupuncture

Objective:To observe differences in the effects of acupuncture of different acupoints on gastric motility and the electrical activity of lateral hypothalamus area (LHA)、fastigial nuclear(FN) and medial vestibular nuclei(MVe)in anaesthized rats, to demonstrate the modulation regularities of LHA、FN and MVe in acupuncture regulating gastric function and investigate the central mechanism. Method:1. The intragastric pressure was measured via a pressure transducer connected to a balloon inserted in the stomach cavity. The changes of the intragastric pressure responding to acupuncture (rotation120-180times/min,2min) at "Zusanli"(ST36)、"Quchi"(LI11)、"Weishu"(BL21) and "Zhongwan"(CV12) were observed in rats(n=60) under anesthesia.2. Gastric distention(GD) was conducted by a balloon inserted in the stomach cavity. Extracellular electrical activities of neurons were recorded by glass microelectrodes. To identify the LHA neurons’ responses (the changes of spontaneous discharge of neurons) to the gastric distention(30mm Hg) and acupuncture(rotation120-180times/min,lmin) at ST36、LI11、BL21and CV12respectively in rats under anesthesia.3. To identify the FN neurons’responses (the changes of spontaneous discharge of neurons) to the gastric distention(30mm Hg) and acupuncture(rotation120～180times/min,lmin) at ST36、 LI11、BL21and CV12respectively in rats under anesthesia.4. To identify the MVe neurons’ responses (the changes of spontaneous discharge of neurons) to the gastric distention(30mm Hg) and acupuncture(rotation120～180times/min,lmin) at ST36、 LI11、BL21and CV12respectively in rats under anesthesia. Result:1. In normal condition rats, acupuncture at ST36and LI11can both remarkably increase the intragastric pressure(P<0.001),while acupuncture at BL21and CV12produced an apparently inhibitory effects on intragastric pressure(P<0.01,P<0.001).2. GD could produce excitatory and inhibitory effect on the spontaneous discharge (spikes/s) of LHA neurons. LHA neurons were classified by GD as GD-excitatory and GD-inhibitory neurons. Acupuncture at LI11and CV12largely excited spontaneous discharge of neurons in LHA regardless of the classification. ST36could specifically inhibit LHA GD-inhibitory neurons(P<0.01).BL21could specifically inhibit LHA GD-inhibitory neurons(P<0.01)and could specifically excite LHA GD-excitatory neurons(P<0.001). 3. GD could produce excitatory and inhibitory effect on the spontaneous discharge (spikes/s) of FN neurons. FN neurons were classified by GD as GD-excitatory and GD-inhibitory neurons. Acupuncture at ST36largely excited spontaneous discharge of GD-inhibitory neurons(P<0.01). CV12could specifically excited GD-excitatory neurons(P<0.01).4. GD caused a potent excited effect on the spontaneous discharge (spikes/s) of neurons in MVe. Acupuncture at the4acupoints significantly excited spontaneous discharge of neurons in MVe. ST36、BL21and CV12could specifically activate MVe GD-excitatory neurons(P<0.05,P<0.001,P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupunture can significantly regulate gastric motality. Moreover, there was relative fixed effect trendency of different acupoints with regard to regulation of gastric motility:acupoints located in abdomen and back can excite gastric motality,while acupoints located in limbs can inhibit gastric motality.The activation of LHA、FN and MVe may participate in central integration.mechanism of the regulation of acupuncture on gastric function and may be the cause of acupoint specificity. Different acupoints activating on particular nucleus and specific neurons may be one of the central integration mechanism of specificity of acupoints.