Effect of the acupoints ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) on intestinal myoelectric activity of Wistar rats

Despite its ancient use as a therapeutic tool to treat several ailments, acupuncture still faces the challenge of scrutiny by Western science both in terms of its efficacy and in terms of the characterization of its effects and mechanisms of actions underlying these effects. We investigated under well-controlled and carefully characterized conditions the influence of electrical stimulation of acupuncture points ST-36 (Zusanli) and SP-6 (Sanyinjiao) on the myoelectric activity of the small intestine of 38 adult male Wistar rats. Electrical recordings obtained by means of four electrodes chronically implanted in the small intestine were used to assess the effects of acupuncture (electroacupuncture stimulation set at 2 Hz, intermittent stimulation, 1 V, for 30 min). Immobilization of the animals was associated with a consistent decrease (-8 ± 7%) in the myoelectric activity of the small intestine as measured by means of the root mean square. Conversely, acupuncture was able to significantly increase (overshoot) this activity compared to baseline (+44 ± 7%). In contrast, immobilized animals subjected to sham acupuncture had only modest (nonsignificant) increases in myoelectric activity (+9 ± 6%). Using carefully controlled conditions we confirmed previous noncontrolled studies on the ability of acupuncture to alter intestinal motility. The characterization of the topographic and temporal profiles of the effects observed here represents a basis for future dissection of the physiological and pharmacological systems underlying these effects.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Divisão de Medicina Chinesa e AcupunturaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de FisiologiaUNIFESP, Depto. de Ortopedia e Traumatologia Divisão de Medicina Chinesa e AcupunturaUNIFESP, Depto. de FisiologiaSciEL

Electroacupuncture reverses ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization and subsequent pERK expression in mice

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) plays a role in neuronal changes induced by repeated drug exposure. Given that electroacupuncture reverses locomotor sensitization induced by ethanol, we investigated whether this effect is parallel to ERK signalling. Mice received daily ethanol (2 g/kg i.p), for 21 d. Electroacupuncture was performed daily, during four (subsequent) days of ethanol withdrawal. the stimulus of 2 Hz or 100 Hz was provided in combinations of two acupoints: Ea1 (ST-36/Zusanli and PC-6/Neiguan) or Ea2 (Du-14/Dazhui and Du-20/Baihui). the specificity of acupoint effects were assessed by the inclusion of additional groups: Ea3 (ST-25/Tianshu - acupoint used for other non-related disorders), Sham1 or Sham2 (transdermic stimulation near the respective acupoints). the control group was only handled during withdrawal and the saline group was chronically treated with saline and handled similarly to controls. At day 5 of withdrawal, each group was divided in two subgroups, according to the presence or absence of ethanol challenge. the animals were perfused and their brains processed for pERK immunohistochemistry. Only Ea1 at 100 Hz (Ea1_100) and Ea2 at 2 Hz (Ea2_2) reversed locomotor sensitization induced by ethanol. Ethanol withdrawal decreases pERK in the dorsomedial striatum. This decrease is not abolished by electroacupuncture. Conversely, ethanol challenge increases pERK in the dorsomedial striatum, infralimbic cortex and central nucleus of amygdala. the specificity of acupoint stimulation to reverse these increases was seen only for Ea2_2, in the infralimbic cortex and dorsomedial striatum. Therefore, behavioural effects of Ea2_2 (but not Ea1_100) depend, at least in part, on ERK signalling.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Neurobiol Lab, Grp Neuronal Plast & Psychiat Disorders, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Div Chinese Med Acupuncture, São Paulo, BrazilFac Med Sci, Dept Physiol Sci, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Neurobiol Lab, Grp Neuronal Plast & Psychiat Disorders, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Orthoped & Traumatol, Div Chinese Med Acupuncture, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2010-03896-7FAPESP: 2007/55458-0Web of Scienc

Aquapuncture Using Stem Cell Therapy to Treat Mdx Mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) occurs due to genetic mutations that lead to absence or decrease of dystrophin protein generating progressive muscle degeneration. Cell therapy using mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been described as a treatment to DMD. In this work, MSC derived from deciduous teeth, called stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), were injected in acupoint as an alternative therapy to minimize muscle degeneration in twenty-two mdx mice. The treatment occurred three times with intervals of 21 days, and animals were analyzed four times: seven days prior treatment (T-7); 10 days after first treatment (T10); 10 days after second treatment (T31); and 10 days after third treatment (T52). Animals were evaluated by wire test for estimate strength and blood was collected to perform a creatinine phosphokinase analysis. After euthanasia, cranial tibial muscles were collected and submitted to histological and immunohistochemistry analyses. Treated groups presented improvement of strength and reduced creatinine phosphokinase levels. Also, a slight dystrophin increase was observed in tibial cranial muscle when aquapuncture was associated SHED. All therapies have minimized muscle degeneration, but the association of aquapuncture with SHED appears to have better effect, reducing muscle damage, suggesting a therapeutic value

Anatomia macroscópica do epidídimo humano

BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe

Effect of eletroacunputure in two points E-36(Zunsanli) and BP-6(Sanyiiinjiao) on myoeletric activity on the smal intestine of Wistar rats te involvrmrnt of the sympathetic and parasimpathetic systems, as well as the opioids

Introdução: Há milênios, a Medicina Tradicional Chinesa descreve pontos de acupuntura que têm ação sobre a motilidade digestiva e, embora os resultados clínicos apontem para uma confirmação desses efeitos, existem poucos estudos relacionando cientificamente, o efeito da acupuntura com essa atividade visceral. O presente estudo experimental, teve dois objetivos básicos: (l) investigar o efeito da eletroacupuntura sobre a atividade mioelétrica do 1/3 proximal do intestino delgado de ratos Wistar; (2) investigar o envolvimento dos sistemas simpático e parassimpático, bem como de opióides, nesse mecanismo de ação da eletroacupuntura. Material e Método: Para investigar a ação da eletroacupuntura sobre a atividade mioelétrica intestinal foram utilizados 44 ratos Wistar previamente submetidos à implantação cirúrgica de eletródio, para captar registros elétricos mioentéricos. Esses animais foram randomizados em três grupos: EletroAcp; ShamAcp e Imob e foram comparados os registros da atividade mioelétrica de cada grupo com os Registros-Controle (pré-procedimentos). Para investigar o envolvimento dos sistemas parassimpático e simpático, bem como, do sistema opióide na atividade mioelétrica intestinal, foram comparados registros (pós-EletroAcp e pós-lmob) com Registros-Controles, em ratos sob quatro condições experimentais distintas: vagotomia sub-diafragmática, pré-tratamento com: guanetidina, nafazolina e morfina. Resultados: A imobilização inibiu a atividade mioelétrica intestinal (-8) ñ 43 por cento, enquanto a eletroacupuntura reverteu essa inibição exercendo significante (pBV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertaçõe