Effect Of Grouped ST36 Or RN12 On Gastric Motility And Sensation

Purpose: To investigate the effects of paired ST36 and RN12 acupuncture stimulation on gastric motility and the firing rate of responsible neurons in anesthetized rats.Method: Using electrophysiological methods,we measured the effects of acupuncture at RN12,ST36,or RN12+ST36 on gastric motility as well as nerve discharges from the gastric sympathetic,vagal nerve,and wide dynamic range(WDR)neurons in the spinal dorsal horn T7-9 in anesthetized rats.Result: 1)Acupuncture at RN12 inhibited gastric motility(83.84 ± 4.49%)and vagal nerve discharge(65.64 ± 5.67%),but promoted sympathetic nerve activity(243.70 ± 40.67%);acupuncture at ST36 induced opposing effects on gastric motility(111.31±2.01%)and vagal nerve discharge(166.98±15.92%).Interestingly,acupuncture at RN12+ST36 together yielded effects similar to that of acupuncture at RN12 alone(93.59±2.05%,54.52±7.12%).2)WDR neuron discharges induced by gastric distension were inhibited by acupuncture at RN12(194.56 ± 18.79%).However,acupuncture at ST36 induced a more significant inhibitory effect.Conclusion: Acupuncture at RN12 inhibits gastric motility by activation of the sympathetic reflex at the spinal level;acupuncture at ST36 promotes gastric motility by activation of the parasympathetic reflex at the supraspinal level,and acupuncture at RN12+ST36 produces a similar decrease in gastric motility as RN12 stimulation alone.Both acupoints decrease the effect of noxious gastric distention on WDR neuron activity,but paired RN12+ST36 stimulation does not significantly affect WDR neuron discharge.