Effects of Electroacupuncture of "Zusanli"(ST36) on Gastric Mucosal Blood Flow,NO and ET Contents in Gastric Mucosal Injury Rats

Objective: To study the protective mechanism of electroacupuncture(EA) of Zusanli(ST 36) in improving gastric mucosa injury in rats.Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomized into control,model and EA groups with 10 cases in each group.Gastric mucosal injury model was made by intragastric perfusion of anhydrous alcohol(0.4 mL).EA(4/20 Hz in frequency,0.5 ms in pulse-duration,0-8 V instrength) was applied to bilateral Zusanli(ST 36) for(20 min).Gastric mucosal blood flow(GMBF) was detected with a blood flow detector,and gastric mucosal lesion index(GMLI) calculated according to Guth's criteria.Serum nitric oxide(NO) and plasma endothelin(ET) contents were assayed with nitrate reductase method and enzyme-linked immunoassay respectively.Results: Following perfusion of anhydrous alcohol,gastric mucosal lesion was very evident and GMBF decreased remarkably in model group(P0.01),after EA,GMLI decreased considerably and GMBF increased significantly(P0.01).Compared with control group,serum NO level decreased significantly and plasma ET increased considerably in model group(P0.01);while compared with model group,serum NO increased significantly and plasma ET decreased significantly in EA group(P0.01).Conclusion: EA of Zusanli(ST 36) can effectively relieve alcohol-induced gastric mucosal injury,which maybe be related to its regulative effects on blood NO and ET.