• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

Objective : The aims of this study were to observe how body weight and gastric morphology were changed and whether gastric emptying was impaired in rats with partial pyloric obstruction. and to evaluate whether electroacupuncture was able to restore delayed gastric emptying. Methods : Partial pyloric obstruction was induced by wrapping a nonabsorbable rubber ring around the 1st portion of the duodenum for 2 weeks. Body gain and morphologic changes of stomach were investigated and compared with normal intact rats. Gastric emptying was measured by numbering expelled glass of beads in rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups(non-acupuncture, manual acupuncture. 3Hz-electroacupuncture. 60Hz-electroacupuncture). Stimulus intensity in two electroacupuncture groups was 1.2 times of pain threshold. Results : Partial pyloric obstruction produced a significant loss of body weight and induced a significant increase of gastric surface area. The 60Hz electroacupuncture-stimulated group significantly restored the delayed gastric emptying compared to the other groups of rats with partial pyloric obstruction. Conclusion : 60Hz electroacupuncture stimulation on Zusanli(ST36) showed significant restoration of delayed gastric emptying in rats with partial pyloric obstruction.