Effects of pricking blood therapy on ACTH contents in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis in the rat of experimental allergic rhinitis / 中国针灸

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the mechanism of pricking blood therapy (PBT) for allergic rhinitis (AR).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The model rat of experimental allergic rhinitis (EAR) was established by administration of ovoglohulin and they were divided into five groups randomly a model group, a PBT group, a TCM point application group, a beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) treatment group, and a health control group. Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) contents in hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland and plasma were determined by radioimmunoassay before and after treatment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ACTH levels in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal gland and plasma in the rat of EAR were lower than those in the health control group (P < 0.01). After treatment of pricking blood ther, ACTH levels in the above tissues increased significantly (P < 0.01), with very significant differences (P < 0.01) as compared with the model group, similar to those in the BDP group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Pricking blood therapy has a regulatory action on ACTH in HPA axis of rats with experimental allergic rhinitis.</p>