• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1544-1548
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to learn the effects of ST36 ST44 and ST25 ST36 electroacupuncture stimulation on high fat diet-induced obese mouse. The control group was provided with high fat diet without electroacupuncture stimulation, while the experimental group received a electroacupuncture stimulation on ST36 ST44 and ST25 ST36 with three frequencies (10Hz, 100Hz, 200Hz) for 5 times a week during five week periods with the high fat diet. We investigated the body weight, weight gain, and food intake. After the electroacupuncture stimulation, a significant inhibition of increase in weight was found in the experimental group compared with the high fat diet group. But there were no significant differences made by the change of acupoint combinations and frequencies. After the electroacupuncture stimulation, no significant change was found in the food intakes, but the weight gain a week was decreased compared with the high fat diet group. Electroacupuncture stimulation may be effective in treatments of obesity to high fat diet, But no significant difference was found between three frequencies.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of low frequency electroacupuncture according to acupoints combination on NOS positive neurons in the PAG and Hippocampus of Rat with adjuvant induced Rheumatoid arthritis. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA into base of tail. Experimental group were divided into 6 group ; Normal, Control, $ST_{36}$, $SP_9$, $ST_{36}+SP_9$, and NA. Normal group was injected with normal saline and not treated electroacupuncture. Control group was injected with FCA and not treated electroacupuncture. ST36 group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$. $SP_9$ group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $SP_9$. $ST_{36}+SP_9$ group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}+SP_9$. NA group was injected with FCA and treated by 2 Hz electroacupuncture at non acupoint. Each groups were evaluated by the number of NOS-positive neurons in PAG and hippocampus by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results : 1. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the NA group were significantly decreased in the CA2-3. 2. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the ST36 group were significantly decreased in the PAG and CA2-3. 3. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the SP9 group were significantly decreased in the PAG and DG 4. The number of NOS-positive neurons of the ST36+SP9 group were significantly decreased in the PAG, CA1 and DG. Conclusions : It is expected that low frequency electroacupuncture can be used a treatment of rheumatoid arthritic pain and that treatment of electroacupuncture at combined acupoints is more efficient than treatment of low frequency electroacupuncture at one acupoint.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2008

Objectives & Methods : This study was to investigate effect of low frequency electroacupuncture on NADPH-d positive neurons in the brain cortex of rat with adjuvant induced rheumatoid arthritis. Experimental groups were divided into 6 groups ; Normal, Control, $ST_{36}$, $SP_9$, $ST_{36}+SP_9$ and Non-Acupoint. Normal group, non-arthritic group, was injected normal saline, and the other groups were injected FCA. Each acupoint groups were treated by 2Hz electroacupuncture at each acupoints and NA group was treated by 2Hz electroacupuncture at non-acupoint. Each groups were evaluated by the number of NADPH-d positive neurons in primary somatosensory area(S1), secondary somatosensory area(S2), motor area and caudate putamen by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results : 1. In S1, the number of NADPH-d positive neuron cells in the $ST_{36}$ group were significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 2. In S2, the number of NADPH-d positive neuron cells in all electroacupuncture groups were not significantly changed compared with the control group. 3. In motor area, the number of NADPH-d positive neuron cells in $ST_{36}$ group, $SP_9$ group, NA group were significantly(p<0.05) increased compared with the control group. 4. In Caudate putamen, the number NADPH-d positive neuron cells in all electroacupuncture groups were significantly(p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group. Conclusions : Our result demonstrated that low frequency electroacupuncture on $ST_{36}$ & $SP_9$ normalized expression of NADPH-d positive neurons in the brain cortex of the rheumatoid arthritis model in rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.691-696
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• 2011

In order to the neuroprotective effect of electroacupuncture (EA), the present study examined the effects of electroacupuncture inacupoint ST36 (Stomach 36) on trimethyltin chloride (TMT)-induced cognitive impairments rat using the Morris water maze (MWM) task and immunohistochemistry staining. The rats were randomly divided into the following groups: naive rat (Normal), TMT injection rat (Control), TMT injection + EA treated rat inacupoint ST36 (ST36) and TMT injection + EA treated rat in non-acupoint, base of tail (Non-AC). Electroacupuncture (2Hz, 2mA, and 10 minutes)was applied either to the acupuncture point ST36 or the nonacupuncture point in the tail for the last 14 days. In the water maze test, the animals were trained to find a platform in a fixed position during 4d and then received 60s probe trial on the $5^{th}$ day following removal of platform from the pool. Rats with TMT injection showed impaired learning and memory of the tasks and treatment with EA in acupoint ST36 (P<0.05) produced a significant improvement in escape latency to find the platform after $2^{nd}$ day and retention trial in the Morris water maze. Consistent with behavioral data, treatment with EA in acupoint ST36 also significantly increased expression of Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) immunoreactive neurons in the hippocampus compared to the Control group. These results demonstrated that EA in acupoint ST36 has a protective effect against TMT-induced neuronal and cognitive impairments. The present study suggests that EA in acupoint ST36 might be useful in the treatment of TMT-induced learning and memory deficit.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.79-92
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• 2006

Acupuncture has acupoints to treat, prevent, and reduce disease and to recover health by meridian guidance and reflexion. In the oriental medicine, meridian and acupoints are the foundations of treatment. Therefore, in the clinical treatment, we have to decide the therapeutic methods, meridian, acupoints, acupoint place, and acupoint match according to the disease. This study was designed to investigate the combined effects of ST36, ST37, and ST39 using electroacupuncture in rats. The present study was conducted to see the effects produced by combined electro-acupuncture(EA) at ST36, ST37, and ST39 on small intestine transportation in rats. EA(2 Hz, 5mA, pulse duration 1 ms) was applied for 30 minutes at acupoints of ST36, ST37, and ST39. The results are as follows. Compared to other acupoint place matches, ST36(left)+ ST37(right), ST36(left)+ST39(right), and ST37(left)+ST39 (right) were more effective than ST36(right)+ST37(left), ST36 (right)+ST39(left), and ST37(right)+ST39(left) for small intestine transporation(+ means acupoint place match). In terms of acupoint placement, ST36(left), ST37(right), and ST39(right) were more effective than the other sides for small intestine transporation. The data suggests that we have to consider acupoint place and acupoint match for acupucture therapy.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.91-108
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• 2009

Objectives: Single colorectal instillation of trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid (TNBS) causes a dose-dependent increase of visceral motor response (VMR) and severity of inflammation. In this study we compared the effects of electroacupuncture in the different acupoints in the acute colitis induced by TNBS intracolonic injection in rats. Methods: In Male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing $250{\sim}400g$, a single colorectal administration of TNBS 5mg/kg and 50% ethanol under isoflurane anaesthesia after an overnight fast. Electrodes for electromyography (EMG) recording were stitched into the external oblique musculature under general anesthesia. Acupoints of LI4, ST25, or ST36 were stimulated by electroacupuncture, respectively. The balloon was inserted intra-anally and visceral motor response (VMR) to colorectal distensioin (CRD) was quantified with an EMG recording system. Results: At an observation of the visceral hyperalgesia in the day-time series, the visceromotor response increased significantly 3 days after TNBS intra-rectalcolonic injection in rats. Electroacupuncture on either ST25 or ST36 suppressed the visceromotor response to colorectal distension, but not LI4, at 3 days after TNBS injection. Pretreatment of naltrexone (10 mg/kg, i.p.), opioids antagonist, inhibited the VMR suppress of 10Hz EA to ST36 but not phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.). Pretreatment of either naltrexone or phentolamine inhibited effects of 10Hz EA to ST25. Conclusions: Data show that EA at either ST25 or ST36 potently inhibits hypersensitivity of colorectum after TNBS induced colitis and is differently mediated through the endogenous opioid system and adrenergic system.

• 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.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was to investigate the effect of high frequency electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$ acupuncture point on the Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced rat arthritis pain model. Methods : Arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of CFA into base of tail. Experimental groups were divided into 4 groups; Normal, Control and Jok-Samri ($ST_{36}$) and Non-Acupuncture point (NA). Normal group, non-arthritic group, was injected with normal saline，and the others groups were injected CFA. $ST_{36}$ group was treated by 120 Hz electroacupuncture at $ST_{36}$ acupuncture point, and NA group was treated by 120 Hz electroacupuncture at non-acupuncture point. Each groups were evaluated by the change of c-fos positive neurons in periaqueductal gray (PAG) and hippocampus by using an image analyzer and a microscope. Results: - In the PAG region, the number of fos-positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($42.37{\pm}5.08$) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group ($64.56{\pm}6.35$). - In the PAG region, the number of fos-positive cells in the NA group were meaninglessly decreased compared with the control group - In the Cornu Ammonis(CA)l region of hippocampus, the number of fos-positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($7.00{\pm}1.08$) and NA group ($5.56{\pm}2.01$) were significantly (p<0.05) decreased compared with the control group ($13.81{\pm}1.24$). - In the dentate gyrus region of hippocampus, the number of fos- positive cells in the $ST_{36}$ group ($10.75{\pm}0.98$) and NA group ($6.56{\pm}0.78$) were significantly (p$26.45{\pm}1.82$). Conclusions : It is expected that high frequency electroacupuncture can be used a treatment of arthritic pain.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.18-26
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• 2001

Purpose : To evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture on regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) at acupoints suggested by oriental medicine to be related to the treatment of cerebrovascuiar diseases. Materials and Methods : Rest/electroaeupuncture-stimulation Tc-99m ECD brain SPECT using a same-dose subtraction method was performed on 5 normal male volunteers (age range from 27 to 30 years) using electroacupuncture at acupoint, ST 36. In the control study, needle location was chosen on a non-meridian focus 1cm posterior to the right fibular head. All images were spatially normalized and the differences between rest and acupuncture stimulation were statistically analyzed using SPM$^{(R)}$ for Windows$^{(R)}$. Results : Electroacupuncture applied at ST36 increased rCBF in the left hemisphere, that is, the left parietal lobe(angular gyrus), the left temporal lobe, the left inferior frontal lobe around rectus gyrus and the left cerebellar hemisphere, a part of the left inferior frontal lobe. In the control stimulation, no significant rCBF increase was observed. Conclusion : The results demonstrate that electroacupuncture increases rCBF in the contralateral cerebral hemisphere.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.207-210
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• 2002

The effects of electroacupuncture on gastric motility in dogs were investigated in this study. The acupoints used in this experiment were Zu San Li (ST-36), Feng Long (ST-40), Jie Xi (ST-41), and Li Dui (ST-45) which belong to stomach meridian, Wei Shu (BL-21) which belongs to urinary bladder meridian, and Zhong Wan (CV-12) which belongs to conception vessel meridian. The animals were stimulated with 2-4 volt and 5 Hz for 20 min. Electroacupuncture at Zu San Li and Wei Shu acupoint increased the gastric motility, but Zhong Wan decreased the motility. There were no change in gastric movement after electrostimulation at Feng Long, Jie Xi and Li Dui acupoints. It was considered that electroacupuncture at Zu San Li and Wei Shu acupoints to promote the gastric movement, and at Zhong Wan acupoint to depress the movement might be effective in veterinary practice.