Study On Enhancement Of Immunity And Its Mechanism After Injection Of Immunogen(s) Into Houhai Acupoint

INTRODUCTIONStudies have shown that manipulation of biologically active points (acupoints) of the body produces stimulating and regulating effects on the immune system of theorganism. Houhai which is the same acupoint as Changqiang in human was traditionallyused to treat the disorders of genito—urinary system and digestive system inveterinary medicine. Changqiang in human is also commonly for treating epilepsy. Thesite of stimulating Houhai is located at the excavation between anus and root of theanimal's tail. The needling instrument penetrate between anal sphincter andanococcygeum ligament and reach the connective tissue between the anal canal—rectumof the distal colon and coccygeus muscle. Recently,the veterinarian established thatacupuncture with general stimulating or injecting of immunogens into Houhai acu-pointgave more elevating immunne function than that vaccination did. Acupuncture at Houhaiwith immunogens could reduce as many as one third to one half amount of vaccine, andreach a set standard in advantage over the common preventive inoculation, andorganism aquired immunity ahead.Much experimental evidence sugests that gastrointestinal immune respones aremainly initiated in organized parts of gut—asociated lymphoid tissue (GALT) ,althougha primary role of the mucosal lamina propria and mesenteric lymph nodes has alsobeen suggested. The study of mucosal immunology has developed dramatically the past30 years. It has made important advances in our understanding of secretory IgA; mechanisms of cell" homing"and muturation; intraepithelial lymphocytes; oral tolerance;M — cell antigen sampling; PPs as inductive sites; hepatobiliary secretion of IgA; immunoregulatory cytokines; the antigen—presenting capabilities of intestinaldendritic cells, macrophages, and epithelial cells ; and the role of neuropep-tides inregulating intestinal immune responses. The intestine contains major subdivisions ofthe nervous and immune system. The lamina propria has an extensive network of nervesusing the neuropeptides somatostatin (SOM) , substance P(SP) , vasoactive intestinalpeptide(VIP) , Met—enkephalin(Met—enk)and dynorphin(Dyn). Subpopulations of T cells, Bcells, cells of the monocyte / macrophage line, and several other immunologicallyrelevant cells have the ability to recognize and respond to these neuropeptidesignals. The intestine is likely to be a highly specialized venue forneuroimmunomodulation in intact animals, and this has important implication in theacupuncture at Houhai with injecting of immunogen.The nervous system is involved both in modulating the immune system, and inacupunc-ture mechanisms,it appears to function as a link between them. For many years,the importance of neural participation has been widely demonstrated. It is sufficientto recall that. 1)total denervation of any acupoint cancels its efficiency; 2) responseto acupuncture stimulationuse either direct neuronal pathways, or neurochemicalprocesses(neurotransmitters,neuromodula-tors, neurohormones) or lastly, a humoral orhormonal path at end of many circuits. The present thesis inclodes 3 units: (1) theenhancement of immunity by Houhai acupoint inoculation; (2) the morphological studyon Houhai acupoint; (3) the connection between Houhai...