Acupoints Of Patient With Peripheral Facial Paralysis By Electroacupuncture: A Functional MRI Study

Purpose:To compare the brain response changes between different acupoints of peripheral facial paralysis by electroacupuncture(EA) using functional magnetic resonance imaging(fMRI) . To probe the theoretical basis of acupuncture ,to demonstrate the classic theory that the diseases of mouth and face are cured with Hegu further and investigate the analgesic mechanism of acupuncture.Methods:In this study different acupoints EA methods were devised, Eighteen patient with peripheral facial paralysis on the left were randomly divided into three groups.six of them received electroacupuncture(EA) at left dicang,6 received electroacupuncture(EA) at left hegu, and 6 received electroacupuncture(EA) at left houxi; Eighteen patient with peripheral facial paralysis on the right were randomly divided into three groups. six of them received electroacupuncture(EA) at right dicang,6 received electroacupuncture(EA) at right hegu, and 6 received electroacupuncture(EA) at right houxi;Functional MRI data were obtained from s canning the whole brain . Acquired functional datawere processed by SPM99 software and functional responses were established by students'group t-test analysis(P<0.05).Results: Electroacupuncture(EA)dicang on the left induced signal decreases of bilateral superior frontal gyrus , bilateral middle frontal gyrus, left cingulate gyrus,left medial frontal gyrus,left precuneus or left paracentral lobule,signal increases of right precentral gyrus ,left superior temporal gyrus,bilateral postcentral gyrus,left angular gyrus; Electroacupuncture(EA) hegu on the left induced signal decreases of left cingulate gyrus,bilateral middle frontal gyrus , induced signal increases of bilateral postcentral gyrus ,right inferior frontal gyrus,right superior temporal gyrus,right inferior frontal gyrus,right insula, left precentral gyrus;Electroacupuncture(EA) houxi on the left induced signal decreases of bilateral inferior frontal gyrus ,left middle frontal gyrus,left caudate head,left lentiform nucleus right middle temporal gyrus,right cerebellar tonsil, signal increases of right caudate head,right cingulate gyrus,left brainstem or cerebellar vermis, right parahippocampal gyrus or thalamus,right superior temporal Gyrus or thalamus; Electroacupuncture(EA)dicang on the right induced signal decreases of left superior frontal gyrus,left middle frontal gyrus,left claustrum,left subthalamic nucleus,left cingulate gyrus,left cerebellar Tonsil,left cuneus or left middle occipital gyrus, signal increases of right inferior frontal gyrus,right Insula,right precentral gyrus,left postcentral gyrus,right superior temporal gyrus ; Electroacupuncture(EA) hegu on the right induced signal decreases of right medial frontal gyrus, left parahippocampal gyrus,left inferior semi-lunar lobule, signal increases of left anterior cingulated,right cingulate gyrus,left middle frontal gyrus,right superior temporal gyrus; Electroacupuncture(EA) houxi on the right induced signal decreases of left superior frontal gyrus,right medial frontal gyrus,left cerebellar tonsil, signal increases of left inferior frontal gyrus,right precentral gyrus,right cingulate gyrus,left caudate,left inferior parietal lobule,right superior temporal gyrus,left lingual gyrus.Conclusion:Hegu and Dicang are frequently used acupoints on clinic to cure peripheral facial paralysis, Electroacupuncture the two acupoints can cause homoplastic domain activation in cerebrum, while electric needle Houxi acupiont can not stimulate the homoplastic domain with upon, though it located close to Hegu acupoint. We can infer that the association between acupoint and cerebral is intimate to subordinates meridian but little to the anatomical position of the acupoint. Our experimental results provid evidences that the diseases of face and mouth are cured with Hegu acuacupoint. The effect of analgesia with electric acupuncture may implement through suppress and excite many brain domains related to algesthesia concoction. Electroacupuncture Houxi bring about not only acu-feeling, but Deqi sensation, and furthermore, it maybe a sort of infaust stimulation.