[Effects of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation of "Zusanli" (ST 36) on gastric mucosal injury in exercise stress-induced gastric ulcer rats].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation(TEAS) of "Zusanli" (ST 36) on gastric mucosal injury in rats with exercise stress-induced gastric ulcer. METHODS: Twenty-four SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control, model and TEAS groups. Gastric ulcer model was established by forcing the rat to run on a treadmill (15 m/min) till exhaustion, once daily continuously for 15 days. TEAS was applied to bilateral "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 30 min, once daily for 15 days. Behavior changes (crossing and rearing scores) were assessed using open-field test. The ulcer index (UI) of the gastric mucosa was measured by giving the mottling bleeding, streak-like hemorrhage and lesion width with scores according to Guth's method. Contents of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1alpha (6-keto-PGF1alpha) and thromboxane B 2 (TXB2) of gastric mucosal tissue were measured using radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the levels of crossing and rearing levels in open-field tests, and the duration of forced treadmill running exhaustion, gastromocosal 6-keto-PGF1alpha and TXB2 contents in the model group were obviously reduced (P < 0.01), while the UI of model group was obviously increased (P < 0.01). In comparison with the model group, the scores of crossing and rearing in open-field tests and the duration of forced treadmill running exhaustion and gastromocosal 6-keto-PGF1alpha and TXB2 contents of TEAS group were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the UI of TEAS group was obviously decreased (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: TEAS of "Zusanli" (ST 36) can protect gastric mucosa from injury in exercise stress-induced gastric ulcer rats.