ABSTRACT
Objective To research the function of the vagus nerve center nucleus of solitary tract(NTS)in the influence of gastric pressure by acupuncture at "Zusanli" in rats with motility disturbances of the stomach.Methods Adopting electrophysiological methods,the extracellular discharge signals of neuronic action in NTS were recorded with glass microelectrode.The influence of the discharges of NTS neurons and gastric pressure responding to the acupuncture at "Zusanli" point were observed in normal status and the condition of Atropine or Metoclopramide intravenous injection.Results In the normal status,acupuncture at "Zusanli" activated the discharges of NTS neurons and promote the gastric pressure remarkably.After Atropine intravenous injection,the background discharges of NTS neurons decreased.There was no statistical difference in the discharges responding to the effect of acupuncture before and after Atropine administration.And the gastric motion reinforced obviously by acupuncture at "Zusanli" after Atropine administration.But after intravenous injection of Metoclopramide,the background discharges of NTS neurons increased.There was also no statistical difference in the discharges responding to the effect of acupuncture before and after Metoclopramide administration.Moreover,the function of promoting gastric motion by acupuncture at "Zusanli" got more obviously after Metoclopramide administration.Conclusion The function of adjusting gastric motion by acupuncture at "Zusanli" point has close relation to the activation of NTS neurons,and the increasing amplitude of the discharges of NTS neurons wasn't influenced by cholinergic receptor blocker Atropine and dopamine-receptor antagonist Metoclopramide.