Effects of Electroacupuncture on Plasma and Gastric Mucosal Levels of Endothelin(ET)

Objective:To investigate the regulation of electro acupuncture ( EA ) on gastric mucosal blood flow(GMBF) and its relation to the contents of plasma and gastric mucosal ET in dogs. Methods:Twenty mongrel dogs were randomly divided into four groups: control group,no point group,shangjuxu group and zusanli group. By using laser doppler flowmeter (LDF) and radioimmunoassay methods,GMBF and contents of ET were simultaneously measured,with or without EA stimulation at different acupoints in lab dogs.Results:In the zusanli group,after EA stimulation,a decrease was observed in plasma ET content( P 0.05) and gastric mucosa ET content( P 0.01) as compared with those of the control group ( P 0.01),whereas an increase was found in GMBF(4.45±0.69～6.94±1.17, P 0.01),and in Shangjuxu group,after EA stimulation,a decrease in plasma ET content was observed. But the change in the Shangjuxu group was not so significant as that in the Zusanli group. No significant changes were observed in other groups. Conclusion:EA at Zusanli point can evidently make GMBF increase,which is indicative of the regulative effect of EA on gastrointestinal dysfunctions.These effects are probably related to the changes in plasma and gastric mucosa brain gut peptide and are also acupoint specific.