Effect of electroacupuncture or moxibustion of "Tianshu" (ST25) on intragastric pressure in rats / 针刺研究

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of electroacupunctur (EA) and moxibustion of left or right "Tian-shu" (ST25) on intragastric pressure (IGP) in normal rats. METHODS: Twenty male SD rats were equally and randomly divided into EA group and moxibustion group. EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 2 mA) or moxibustion (46-48 ℃) was applied to unilate-ral ST25 for 2 min. The IGP was detected by using a pressure-transducer and an amplifier before and after EA or moxibustion. RESULTS: Compared with pre-intervention, the IGP was significantly decreased after EA or moxibustion stimulation of both left and right ST25 (P0.05). CONCLUSION: Both EA and moxibustion of ST25 can lower IGP, and the effect of EA is significantly stronger than that of moxibustion in normal rats. In addition, the IGP-lowering effect of EA of the left ST25 is markedly stronger than that of the right ST25, suggesting a lateral advantage effect.