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Objective: To investigate the neural connections between Shenmen (HT7)-heart and the brain by observing the tracing viruses co-labeled brain nuclear groups after injection of the pseudorabies viruses (PRV), the reverse transsynaptic virus tracer carrying different fluorescent protein genes, into the myocardium and Shenmen (HT7) point, respectively.Methods: Pseudorabies virus 531 (PRV531) carrying the green fluorescent protein gene and pseudorabies virus 724 (PRV724) carrying the red fluorescent protein gene were injected into the left ventricular wall and Shenmen (HT7) point area of the left forelimb of six C57BL/6 mice, respectively. After 120 h, whole brain tissue was extracted under 4％ paraformaldehyde perfusion to prepare brain sections. Neuronal co-labeling with the tracing viruses was observed under fluorescence microscopy. Results: Co-labeled signals from the mouse ventricular wall and Shenmen (HT7) point region were found at all levels of the mouse central nervous areas, such as the cerebral cortex, hypothalamus, midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata. The number of co-labeled neurons was higher in the primary motor area, the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus, the subceruleus nucleus, and the paramedian reticular nucleus. Conclusion: There is a neural connection between Shenmen (HT7), the heart, and the brain, which may be most closely related to the autonomic nervous system.
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Objective:To observe the effect of acupuncture on blood oxygen concentration in the brain of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS),thus to reveal the mechanisms of acupuncture in intervening the brain function of PTSD rats.Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a grasping group,a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group,with 12 rats in each group.Except the blank group,rats in the other groups all received incarceration plus electric shock for 7 d to prepare the PTSD animal model.One hour before the stress model was established,rats in each group received the designated intervention:rats in the blank group and the model group did not receive any intervention;rats in the grasping group received grasping and fixation;rats in the paroxetine group received paroxetine hydrochloride solution by intragastric administration;and rats in the acupuncture group received acupuncture.Six-day treatment was a course,with 2 courses of treatment conducted for a total of 12 d.After the modeling,rats in each treatment group received intervention for 5 d,and the fNIRS system was used to collect and record the changes in the concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2),deoxygenated hemoglobin (d-Hb) and total hemoglobin (t-Hb) of the involved rat's brain regions,and also to assess the brain function.Results:Compared with the blank group,the concentration of HbO2 was significantly increased,the concentration of d-Hb was significantly decreased,and the concentration of t-Hb was significantly increased in the model group and the grasping group after the intervention,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.01).Compared with the model group,the concentrations of HbO2,d-Hb and t-Hb in the grasping group did not change significantly (all P＞0.05).Compared with the grasping group,the concentration of HbO2 was significantly decreased,the concentration of d-Hb was significantly increased,and the concentration of t-Hb was significantly decreased in the paroxetine group and the acupuncture group,and the differences were statistically significant (all P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the concentrations of HbO2,d-Hb and t-Hb between the paroxetine group and the acupuncture group (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Acupuncture can regulate the blood oxygen concentration in the brain of PTSD model rats,which may be an important mechanism of acupuncture in intervening the brain function in PTSD rats.
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Objective:To observe the effects of acupuncture on the characteristics of neuro-electrophysiological activity in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas of rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Methods:Fifty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group,a model group,a grasping group,a Western medicine group and an acupuncture group,with 10 rats in each group.Except for the blank group,rats in the other 4 groups all received the combined stress modeling method.Rats in the Western medicine group were intragastrically administrated with paroxetine hydrochloride,those in the acupuncture group received acupuncture intervention,those in the grasping group received grasping fixation,and those in the model group and the blank group did not receive any interventions.After 14 d of intervention,the interspike interval (ISI) and power spectral densities (PSD) were analyzed and mapped by in vivo multiple channels to record the neuron clusters discharge in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas.Results:Compared with the blank group,ISI was prolonged in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the model group and the grasping group,and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved down (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Compared with the grasping group,the ISI of the CA1 and CA3 areas in the Western medicine group and the acupuncture group was shortened,and the concentrated PSD distribution area moved up (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).The ISI and PSD distributions in the CA1 and CA3 areas of the acupuncture group were not statistically different from those in the Western medicine group (both P＞0.05).Conclusion:Both acupuncture and paroxetine hydrochloride can significantly regulate the neuro-electrophysiology activity of hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas in PTSD rats,which may be one of the mechanisms of acupuncture intervention to promote PTSD recovery.
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Objective:To observe the effect of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method on the resting-state electroencephalography (EEG) in rats with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD),and to provide evidence for the effect mechanism study and clinical application of acupuncture intervention for PTSD.Methods:Sixty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank control group,a model group,a grasping group,a paroxetine group and an acupuncture group,with 12 rats in each group.Except for rats in the blank control group,rats in the other groups were subjected to preparing the PTSD models using 'incarceration plus electric shock' method.After interventions,changes in rat behavior of each group were observed;changes in resting-state EEG were collected and analyzed with multichannel EEG acquisition and analysis system,and image analysis and statistical processing were performed.Results:Compared with the blank control group,the average escape latency in the model group was significantly longer (P＜0.05),and the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas were all significantly reduced (P＜0.01).Compared with the grasping group,the average escape latencies in the paroxetine group and acupuncture group were significantly shortened (P＜0.05),and the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas were all significantly increased (P＜0.05).There were no significant differences in the average escape latency,the times of crossing the platform and the effective areas between the acupuncture group and paroxetine group (all P＞0.05).Compared with the blank control group,the α-wave power spectrum value in the model group was significantly decreased,and the power spectrum values of β-wave,δ-wave and a-wave were significantly increased (all P＜0.01);compared with the grasping group,α-wave power spectrum values in the paroxetine group and acupuncture group were significantly increased (both P＜0.01),and the power spectrum values of β-wave,δ-wave and a-wave were decreased significantly (all P＜0.01).The power spectrum values of α-wave,β-wave,δ-wave and (e)-wave of rats in the acupuncture group were not significantly different from those in the paroxetine group (all P＞0.05).Conclusion:Liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method can significantly improve the abnormal EEG activity in PTSD rats,which may be one mechanism of liver-soothing and mind-regulating acupuncture method in effectively affecting the brain function in PTSD rats.
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Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points in treating migraine.Method Totally 128 eligible migraine patients were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 64 cases in each group. The treatment group was intervened by acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points, while the control group was by ordinary acupuncture. The Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), headache attack frequency, headache duration, headache intensity, complicated symptoms, Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were observed before and after treatment and in the follow-up study.Result The NRS scores and the headache symptoms and functions scores were significantly changed respectively after 2-week and 4-week treatment in both groups (P<0.01,P<0.05). The NRS score, headache duration, and headache intensity in the treatment group were significantly different from that in the control group after 4-week treatment and in the follow-up study (P<0.05,P<0.01). The SDS and SAS scores were significantly changed after 2-week and 4-week treatments as well as in the follow-up study in the treatment group (P<0.01). The SDS and SAS scores were significantly changed after 4-week treatment in the control group (P<0.01). There were significant differences in comparing the SDS and SAS scores between the two groups after 2-week and 4-week treatment as well as in the follow-up study (P<0.05,P<0.01). In the treatment group, the SDS and SAS scores in the follow-up study were significantly different from that after 2-week treatment (P<0.01).Conclusion Acupuncture at the six mind-calming points plus the four gate points is an effective method in treating migraine, and it can reduce headache intensity, and improve the anxiety and depression state.
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Objective To investigate the influence of acupuncture on learning and memorial function and the expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex of rats with sleep deprivation (SD), for providing theoretical evidence for treating sleep deprivation with acupuncture.Method Sixty Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, and an acupuncture group, 20 rats in each group. SD models were established by the modified multiple platform methods; the acupuncture group was intervened by acupuncture at Shenmen (HT 7); while the control group was left intact. Respectively after SD for 24 h and 72 h, the learning and memorial function was tested by using Morris water maze. Ten the rats were sacrificed to collect brain for detecting the expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex via immunohistochemical method.Result The body weight, learning and memorial function, and the expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex of the acupuncture group and model group were significantly different from those of the control group after SD for 24 h and 72 h (P<0.05). The learning and memorial function of the acupuncture group was significantly different from that of the model group after SD for 24 h and 72 h (P<0.05). The body weight and expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex of the acupuncture group were significantly different from those of the model group after SD for 72 h (P<0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can obviously improve the decline of the function of learning and memory of the SD rats, and also up-regulate the declined expression of BDNF in prefrontal cortex caused by SD.
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Objective To summarize the theoretic evidence of Shenmen (HT7) Point in the treatment of insomnia and its action mechanism, for guiding clinical application. Method The reasons and evidences for using acupuncture at Shenmen to treat insomnia were summarized from the following 3 aspects: records in the ancient literatures, clinical application, and modern medical studies. Result Acupuncture at Shenmen can produce a calming and sedative effect, and it should be one of the optimal choices for treating insomnia due to its significant efficacy; it calms the mind and improves sleep quality via activating the nervous center for regulating sleep and promoting the secretion of neurotransmitters such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain. Conclusion Acupuncture at Shenmen is an effective method is treating insomnia.
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ObjectiveTo observe the effect of electroacupuncture at Neiguan (PC6) and Shenmen (HT7) on heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with post-cerebral-infarction sequelae.MethodEighty patients were randomized into two groups, 40 cases in each group. The control group was intervened by anti-platelet aggregation and other ordinary symptomatic treatment based on Western medicine, while the treatment group was by electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Shenmen in addition to the treatments given to the control group.ResultThere were no significant differences in comparing the HRV indexes between the two groups before intervention (P>0.05); while the HRV indexes in the treatment group were superior to that in the control group after intervention (P0.05).Conclusion Electroacupuncture at Neiguan and Shenmen can significantly reduce HRV in patients with post-cerebral infarction sequelae.