Abstract
Objectives : The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture at $LI_4$ on intestinal motility in rat. Methods : We made over-activated state of intestinal motility with carbachol and suppressed state of intestinal motility with loperamide in rat and carried out needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at $LI_4$ or sham point in rat devided into pre-treatment group and post-treatment group. and we resulted as follow for measuring charcoal travel rate to observe intestinal motility. Results : 1. Any of needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture at $LI_4$ have no significant influences on intestinal motility of rat in normal state. 2. All of the pre-treatment and post-treatment of needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture didn't significantly decrease intestinal motility in rat which over-activated with carbachol. 3. Pre-treatment of needle retention acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which suppressed with loperamide. 4. Post-treatment of needle retention acupuncture, low frequency electro-acupuncture and high frequency electro-acupuncture significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which suppressed with loperamide. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture on $LI_4$ have preventive effect and therapeutic effect on suppressed intestinal motility, and especially high frequency electro-acupuncture is more effective.