• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.39-61
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study was performed to investigate whether acupuncture stimulation in the rats affected regeneration properties of the injured sciatic nerve. A differential effect of acupuncture stimulation on the one point near the spinal nerve root controlling sciatic nerve activity and the other point in the peripheral area subordinated by injured nerve was compared. Materials and Methods: Rat sciatic nerves were injured by crush, and the effects on axonal regeneration on injured sciatic nerves were evaluated by acupuncture stimulation at two different regions. In proximal acupuncture stimulation group, acupuncture stimulation was performed on Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points located from L5 to S1 vertebral levels to stimulate the nearest spinal nerve root that innervates sciatic nerves. In distal acupuncture stimulation group, acupuncture stimulation was performed on Zusanli(ST 36) and Weizhong(BL 40) points to stimulate at peripheral area dominated by injured sciatic nerves. Acupuncture stimulation was given every other days for 1 or 2 weeks. Sciatic nerve tissues collected from acupuncture stimulation experimental groups, injury control group, and intact animal group were used for protein analysis by Western blotting or Hoechst nuclear staining. To determine axonal regeneration, Dil fluorescence dye was injected into the sciatic nerve 0.5 cm distal to the injury site in individual animal groups and Dil-labeled cells by retrograde tracing were measured in the DRG at lumbar 5 or in the spinal cord. DRG sensory neurons prepared from individual animal groups were used to measure the extent of neurite outgrowth and for immunofluorescence staining with anti-GAP-43 antibody. Results : Animal groups given proximal or distal acupuncture stimulation showed upregulation of GAP-43 and Cdc2 protein levels in the sciatic nerve at 7 days after injury. Cdk2 protein levels were strongly induced by nerve injury, but did not show changes by acupuncture stimulation. Phospho-Erk1/2 protein levels were elevated by acupuncture stimulation above those present in the injury control animals. These increase in regeneration-associated protein levels appeared to be related with increase cell proliferation in the injured sciatic nerves. Hoechst 33258 staining of sciatic nerve tissue to visualize nuclei of individual cells showed increased Schwann cell number in the distal portion of the injured nerve 7 and 14 days after injury and further increases by acupuncture stimulation particularly at the proximal position. Measurement of axonal regeneration by retrograde tracing showed significantly increased Dil-labeled cells in proximal acupuncture stimulation group compared to distal acupuncture stimulation group and injury control group. Finally, an evaluation of axonal regeneration by retrograde tracing showed increased number of Dil labeled cells in the DRG at lumbar 5 or in the ventral horn of the spinal cord at lower thoracic level at 7 days after nerve injury. Conclusions : The present data show that the proximal acupuncture stimulation at Huatuo Jiaji(EX B2) points governing injured sciatic nerves was more effective for axonal regeneration than the distal acupuncture stimulation. Further studies on functional recovery or associated molecular mechanisms should be critical for developing animal models and clinical applications.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.233-238
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• 2002

Moxibustion is one of major healing technique in oriental medicine. It has been widely used in many diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto disease, breech presentation, etc. However, till now, effects of moxibustion on NK cell activity and relations between sympathetic nerve system(SNS) and the immune alteration induced by moxibustion were not well studied. This study was designed to evaluate effects of moxibustion on NK cell activity and the intervention of SNS in the alteration of NK cell activity induced by moxibustion. Splenic NK cytotoxity was measured in a standard 4-h 51Cr release assay. We measured the NK cytotoxity at after moxibustion stimulation for 1,3,5, and 7 days, and also measured the NK cell cytotoxity after 3 and 7 days burn stimulation with similar temperature. IL-2, IL-4, INF-γ in serum were measured by rat IL-2, IL-4, INF-γ ELISA TEST KIT. To evaluate the effects of sympathectomy on alteration of NK cell cytotoxity, 6-hydroxydopamine(6-OHDA : 5Omg/kg) was used. We showed that NK cell activity of moxibustion stimulation group increased at the 3rd day, and declined at 7th day in comparison with that of contol group. In moxibustion stimulation group, NK cell activity of 3 day stimulation group was significantly higher than sham group. On the contrary, in burn stimulation group, NK cell activity was significantly higher than that of sham groups at 3rd, 7th days. Patterns between moxibustion and burns were different. INF- γ level of 3 days moxibustion stimulation group significantly higher than sham group. IL 2 level among groups were not different. IL-4 was not detected in serum with this method. Sympathectomy abolished the NK cell activity alteration induced by moxibustion. The results suggest that moxibustion induces the alteration of NK cell activity, along with INF-γ and SNS is related to these effects.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.76-87
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• 2001

Objective : Zusanli(ST36) and Hoku(Li4) are analgesic acupuncture points frequently used for acupuncture in Oriental medicine. The present study was conducted to see the antinociceptive effects produced by electroacupuncture combined two frequencies(Low, High) and two different acupuncture points(LI4, ST36) in the rat tail flick test. Method : In this study the Rats (Sprague-Dawley, 250-300g) were partially anesthetized with thiopental sodium(40mg/kg, i.p.). The basal reaction time for the tail-flick was 3${\pm}$0.5 sec. Low frequency(3Hz, 5V, biphasic) and high frequency(100Hz, 5V, biphasic) were applied to the inserted needle for the period of insertion(twenty minutes). Experimental groups are divied as follow; a) electroacupuncture stimulation groups at Hoku with or high frequency(L-EA, H-EA), b) electroacupuncture stimulation groups at Zusanli with low or high frequency(1-EA, h-EA), c) low frequency at Hoku and Zusanli(LIEA), d) low frequency at Hoku and high frequency at Zusanli(LhEA), e) high frequency at Hoku and low frequency at Zusanli(HIEA), f) high frequency at Hoku and Zusanli(HhEA) Results : The individual stimulation at either Hoku or Zusanli with low frequency has stronger and longer analgesic effect than high frequency stimulation. In addition, the combined stimulation at Hoku and Zusanli with low frequency has superior effect to individual stimulation with low frequency. LhEA and LIEA have superior effect to other stimulation groups among the combined groups. In order to determine the involvement of opioid system on the different antinociceptive effects, Naloxone, an opioid antagonist, was used in the combined groups. LIEA is the most sensitive when naloxone was administrated among study groups. HhEA is the least sensitive in the administration of naloxone. Conclusion : From results, this study confirmed that the opioid system is involved in analgesic effect of low frequency stimulation of acupuncture point, and we also can suggest the stronger analgesic effect of combining stimulation points is due to the theory of spatial summation in the nervous system.