• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.130-137
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• 2010

Objectives: So far it has been reported that acupuncture increases cerebral blood supply and stimulates the functional activity of brain nerve cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that frequently used electro-acupuncture (EA) therapies for stroke increased regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in normal volunteers. Though ST 36-ST 41 EA is another prevailing therapy for stroke, there had been no report about its effect on rCBF. This study was to evaluate the effect of ST 36-ST 41 EA on rCBF in normal volunteers using single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Methods: In the resting state, $^{99m}Tc$-ECD brain SPECT scans were performed on 10 normal volunteers (5 males, 5 female, mean age $23.6{\pm}0.5$ years). On the other study day, 7 days after the resting examination, 15 minutesEA were applied at ST 36 and ST 41 on the right side of the subjects. Immediately after ST36-ST41 EA, the second SPECT images were obtained in the same manner as the resting state. Significant increases and decreases of rCBF after EA were estimated by comparing their SPECT images with those of the resting state using paired t statistics at every voxel, which were analyzed by SPM with a threshold of p = 0.01, uncorrected (extent threshold: k=100 voxels). Results: EA applied at the right ST36-ST41 significantly increased rCBF in the right inferior parietal lobule (Brodmann area [BA] 40), right retrosubicular area (BA 48), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 40), left middle temporal gyrus (BA 21), left fusiform gyrus (BA 37), left inferior parietal lobule (BA 39), left inferior temporal gyrus (BA 20), and left somatosensory association cortex (BA 7). However, right ST36-ST41 EA significantly decreased rCBF in the right parahippocampal gyrus (BA 35), right cerebellum, left frontopolar area (BA 10), left orbitofrontal area (BA 11), left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 9), and left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (BA 32). Conclusions: These results demonstrate that rightST36-ST41 EA increased rCBF prominently in both inferior parietal lobule (BA 40) and right retrosubicular area (BA 48), which suggest that there be correlation between specific EA and corresponding rCBF.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.119-127
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• 2000

To investigate the acupuncturing function of $ST_{36}$(足三里) on the gastric activity, four different treatment methods such as intact, local anesthesia, ligation and nerve dissection were implemented. Followings are the results from the present study. 1. When a simple acupuncture with intact, the stomach motility and frequency were increased without significance compared with control. 2. Under local anesthesia on femoral region, the stomach motility and frequency showed no such changes compared with control. 3. With ligation of femoral region, the stomach motility and frequency were decreased significantly compared with control. 4. When the siatic nerve was dissected, the stomach motility and frequency showed no such changes compared with control. Overall, the effect of acupuncture on the $ST_{36}$(足三里) was very closely related with the condition of surrounding area. It is assumed that further studies should be done for the investigation of mechanism behind the acupuncturing function in conjunction with the nervous system.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.5-20
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• 2006

Objectives : This study was carried out to identified the effects of distilled cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture to the obesity. Methods : Cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture was administered on the points of chung-wan(CV12), $Ch'{\breve{o}}nch'u$(ST25), and Chok-samni(ST36) on lowering lipid and oxidative capacity in biochemical and molecular biological aspects were investigated in obese rats fed with high fat diet. Results : 1. The contents of plasma ${\beta}-lipoprotein$ showed a tendency to decrease in the pharmacopuncture groups compared to the control group. In the pharmacopuncture groups, the values of ST25 and ST36 pharmacopuncture groups showed lower value. 2. The contents of plasma free fatty acids showed a tendency to decrease in pharmacopuncture groups compared to the control group. However, in the pharmacopuncture groups, the values were not significantly different. 3. Plasma triglyceride and glucose showed lower value in the ST25 pharmacopuncture groups compared with the other groups. 4. The activity of AST showed a tendency to decrease in the pharmacopuncture groups. However, the activity of ALT was not significantly different in all the treatment groups. 5. Plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol showed lower value in the ST25 and ST36 pharmacopuncture groups and HDL-cholesterol showed higher value in the CV12 pharmacopuncture groups than that of the other treatment groups. 6. Liver total cholesterol values didn't show significant difference in all the treatment groups, and triglyceride showed lower value in the pharmacopuncture groups. 7. The contents of plasma TEARS showed lower value in the ST25 pharmacopuncture group and contents of liver TBARS showed a tendency to decrease in the pharmacopuncture groups. However these values didn't show significant difference in the pharmaco puncture groups. 8. Liver super oxide dismutase activity showed higher value in the ST25 and ST36 pharmacopuncture groups, and the value of liver glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity showed a tendency to increase in the pharmacopuncture groups. However, these values showed no significant difference in the pharmacopuncture groups. 9. Expression of apo-B and E mRNA in liver cells was lower in the ST25 pharmacopuncture group than that of the other treatment groups. However, expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and leptin mRNA in adipose cell showed no difference among all the treatment groups. 10. ST25 pharmacopuncture group showed a good histological character of liver. It showed similar to that of normal group. However other treatment groups and control group showed slight vasodilation and slight fat accumulation. Conclusion : These results indicate that distilled cultivated wild ginseng pharmacopuncture suppressed adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation, and increased antioxidant capacity.

• 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.24 no.5
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• pp.814-821
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of moxibustion at combined acupoints on sex and age in rats. This study measured the effects of moxibustion on small intestinal motility in rats. Cauterizing with moxa was applied 5 times to the acupoints on SI8, LI11 SP9 and ST36 under enflurane anesthesia in the groups divided with sex and age. In single acupoint groups, cauterizing with moxa on ST36 increased in all of sex and age groups. The SP9 group with 5, 6 weeks in female and 5, 8 weeks in male, the SI8 group with 5, 7 weeks in female and only 7 weeks in male, the LI11 group with only 5, 6, 7 weeks in female and only 7 weeks in male showed increasing on small intestinal motility. In combined acupoints groups, the SI8+SP9 group with 7 weeks in female and 5, 6, 8 weeks in male, the SI8+ST36 group with 5, 6 weeks in female and 8 weeks in male, the LI11+SP9 group with 5, 6 weeks in female and 6 weeks in male, the LI11+ST36 group with 5 weeks in female and 5, 6, 7 weeks in male showed increasing respectively. Although these different according to the sex and age in rats do not have a established tendency, the results suggested that the effects of combined acupoints of cauterizing with moxa have relation with individuality.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.756-763
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• 2002

We have previously demonstrated that repeated injections of nicotine produced an increase in locomotor activity, dopamine(DA), release and c-Fos expression in the nucleus accumbens, one of the major projection areas of the central DA system. Acupuncture as a therapeutic intervention is widely used for the treatment of many functional disorders such as substance abuse and mental dysfunction. And many studies have shown that Coptidis Rhizoma has a suppressive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) and can affect the neurotransmitter systems in the CNS. In order to investigate whether acupuncture and Coptidis Rhizoma have an influence on nicotine-induced reinforcing and behavioral effects, we examined the effect of zusanli(ST36) and Coptidis Rhizoma on repeated nicotine-induced locomotor activity, and zusanli(ST36) on c-Fos expression as an important maker of postsynaptic neuronal activity in nucleus accumbens. Male SD rats received Coptidis Rhizoma (100mg/kg, p.o.) 30 min before injections of nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. Rats were followed withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Systemic challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity. Pretreatment with acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma decreased in nicotine-induced locomotor activity. These results demonstrated that reduction in locomotor activity by acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may be mediated by reduction of dopamine release. Our results suggest that acupuncture at zusanli(ST36, 100Hz) and Coptidis Rhizoma may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.700-703
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• 2009

The present study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can alleviate hypertension and concomitant disorders such as decreased kidney weight and elevation of serum creatinine in spontaneous hypertensive rats. EA (2 Hz, 3 mA, 10 min) was applied to Joksamni (ST36) once daily for 7 days. Body weight, blood pressure and heart rate were measured on Day 0, 2, 6, 8, 10 and 12, and kidney weight and serum creatinine levels were examined after sacrifice (on Day 12 after last examination). In the ST36 group, the blood pressure were significantly decreased from 6thdays and its effects lasted up to Day12 (up to 5days after cessation of acupuncture), compared to control. And, significant decreases of the heart rates after EA at ST36 were also observed on Day 2, 6, and 8. However, there were no significant differences in daily body weight, kidney weight and serum creatinine between acupuncture and control group. These results showed that EA at ST36 caused anti-hypertension by decreasing blood pressure and heart rates in spontaneous hypertenstive rats, although it failed to alleviate concomitant disorders such as the decreased kidney weight and elevation of serum creatinine shown in hypertensive rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.95-104
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• 2001

The pain was induced on upper and lower incisor of the rat based on the theory of 'connections of upper incisor pain with stomach meridian and lower incisor pain with large intestine meridian'. Such acupoints as ST36 and LI4 were used for alleviation of upper and lower incisor pain. The digastric myogram (dEMG) was utilized for the pain measurement. The upper incisor pain was gradually decreased during ST36 stimulation and significant differences were observed at 20 and 25 minute point during 60 minutes study. The upper incisor pain was gradually decreased during LI4 acupuncture and 20 minute was the only point that showed a significant difference. The alleviation of lower incisor pain was not obvious during the ST36 acupuncture. The lower incisor pain was gradually decreased during LI4 stimulation with significant differences at 15, 20 and 40 minute point. In conclusion, the upper incisor pain was relieved with ST36 and LI4 acupuncture while LI4 was effective on the lower incisor pain alleviation based on the theory of 'connections of upper incisor pain with stomach meridian and lower incisor pain with large intestine meridian'.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.25-34
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate that effect of Angelica gigas NAKAI pharmacopuncture(AGN-Ph) by concentration at $ST_{36}$(足三里) and $BL_{23}$(腎兪) in Freund's adjuvant rats. Methods : The experimental model of arthritis was induced by injection of Freund's adjuvant into Sprague Dawley(SD) rats. After arthritis was induced, AGN-Ph was injected by concentration at $ST_{36}$ and $BL_{23}$ of rats every other day for 6 times. Thereafter, edema rate, body weight, IFN-${\gamma}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, hematologic assay were measured. Results : The results were as follows, 1. After 3 times AGN-Ph treatment, the mean of edema rate was significantly decreased in AGN-Ph group 3 than control group. And after 6 times AGN-Ph treatment, the mean of edema rate was significantly decreased in AGN-Ph group 1, 2, 3 than control group. 2. The mean of body weight was significantly increased in AGN-Ph group 1, 3 than control group and saline group. 3. The mean of IFN-${\gamma}$ was significantly increased in AGN-Ph group 3 than control group. 4. The mean of TNF-${\alpha}$ was significantly increased in saline group than control group. But the mean of TNF-${\alpha}$ in AGN-Ph group 2, 3 showed no significance compared with control group's. 5. In hematologic assay, levels of WBC, RBC, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit showed no significance in all groups. Conclusions : These results are suggest that the Angelica gigas NAKAI pharmacopuncture(AGN-Ph) at $ST_{36}$ and $BL_{23}$ has a suppressing inflammation effect on Freund's adjuvant arthritis in rats.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.126-131
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• 2022

Objectives : Electroacupuncture (EA) is a procedure in which pulses of weak electrical current are sent through acupuncture needles into acupuncture points in the skin, and Joksamli (ST36) is one of the most used acupoints. This study was designed to analyze the trend of research articles on ST36 EA published in Korea. Methods : Articles on EA at ST36 in Korean journals were searched in Korean databases and analyzed focusing on the number of publications by year, research subject, research topics, institutes, and journals. Results : Total 66 articles were included in this study, which were 51 basic researches, 12 clinical researches, and 3 reviews. Since 2000, the number of articles has gradually increased, reaching the highest level in 2007, and rapidly decreased since 2012. Kyung Hee University is the organization that published the most articles, and the journal that published the most articles is Journal of Acupuncture Research, followed by Korean Journal of Acupuncture. Conclusions : A lot of ST36 EA studies in Korean journals are basic experimental researches using rats, and the research topics are closely related to the diseases of patients visiting Korean medicine clinics. The number of papers by institution is related to the number of professors, and researchers tend to prefer publishing in acupuncture journals.