Mechanism of Electroacupuncture of Zusanli in Protecting Gastric Mucosa of Dogs

To explore the mechanism of electroacupunture (EA) of Zusanli (ST36)in protecting gastric mucosa of dogs.Twenty mongrel dogs were randomly allocated to four groups: blank control group (Group A), non acupoint group (Group B), Shangjuxu (ST37) group (Group C) and Zusanli (ST36) group (Group D). Dynamic gastric mucosal blood flow (GMBF) was monitored by laser Doppler flowmeter and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) contents in plasma and gastric mucosa were measured simultaneously by radioimmunoassay method. After sixty minutes of EA, GMBF and CGRP contents in plasma and gastric mucosa were increased in Group D (P0 05 or P0 01 as compared with those before EA). In Group C, plasma CGRP content was also increased but the ascending velocity was not so obvious and no significant difference was found in gastric mucosal CGRP content and GMBF. No obvious changes of the observing indexes were found in Group A and Group B.[Conclusion]EA of Zusanli (ST36) can increase GMBF and CGRP contents in plasma and gastric mucosa while no significant changes were found in Shangjuxu (ST37) group, blank control group and non acupoint group. This indicates that EA of acupoints of the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, especially of Zusanli (ST36), can improve GMBF, which may be related to the effect of EA on CGRP contents in plasma and gastric mucosa and this may be one of the mechanisms of EA of Zusanli (ST36) in protecting gastric mucosa of dogs.