The Effects of Electric Acupuncture on Human Immune System (III) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

In this study we investigated the effects of electric acupuncture on <i>in vitro</i> functions of lymphocytes, especially mitogen responses and natural killer (NK) activities of peripheral lymphocytes from normal individuals.<br>Normal young adults were inserted chinese needles into two specific needle points, which were determined by means of chinese diagnostic procedures of radial arteries. The electric current were 5Hz, 2Volt for 5 minutes. There was a tendency to increase phytohaemoaggultinin (PHA) or concanavalin A (Con A) responses of lymphocytes immediatly after acupuncture, but no significant changes. However, there was a significant (p=0.05) increase of pookweed.mitogen (PWM) responses immediatly after acupuncture. NK activities were measured by a ⁵¹Cr release assays. NK activities were enhanced significantly (p=0.05) immediatry after acupuncture. Moreover these changes of mitogen responses and NK activities were shown only when stimulated at specific acupuncture points. Most prominent changes were observed immediately after acupuncture, and the changes in parts continued after 4 hours.