Neiguan, Zusanli, Four White Points In The Regulation Of Gastric Function In The Nucleus Tractus Solitarius Convergence, Role Of Integration

Objective: To explore the mechanism of "many acupoints controlling one viscus" and clarify that nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) may be an important primary nervous center in the medulla oblongata of " Neiguan " "Zusanli" and "Sibai"acupoints regulating gastric functions, differences between acupuncture at "Neiguan" "Zusanli" and "Sibai" acupoints on neuronal discharges and c-fos expression in the NTS, were observed in model rats. At the same time, to provide experimental evidence for themeridian-viscerus-correlation theory and the clinical acupoint prescription.Method: Effects of acupuncture at "Neiguan" "Zusanli" and "Sibai" acupoints on neuronal discharges in the NTS and on c-fos expression in the NTS in gastric distension rats were observed by extracellular recording and immunohistochemistry techniques.Results: In 149 neurons in the NTS, 65 neurons were responsive to gastric distension, in which 44 neurons were excited and 21 neurons were inhibited to the stimulation, showing neurons in the NTS were mainly excited to gastric distension. After acupuncture at Zusanli, Neiguan, and Sibai acupoints, those excitatory neurons mentioned above were inhibited, moreover, Acupuncture at Zusanli, Neiguan, and Sibai acupoints all produced remarkable decreases in discharge ratio of excitatory neurons in rats induced by gastric distension (P<0.01).The number of fos-immunoreactive (fos-IR) neurons in the NTS in Zusanli Neiguan and Sibai groups was significantly lower than that in the gastric distension group (P<0.01) and obviously higher than that in untrue surgery groups (P<0.01). Conclusion: 1. Somatic afferent information induced by acupuncture at Neiguan Zusanli and Sibai acuponts and noxious visceral stimuli from the stomach may converge in the NTS, NTS may be one of integrated nervous center of Neiguan Zusanli and Sibai acuponts in together regulating gastric functions.2. " many acupoints controlling one viscus" is relative specificity.