Effect of acupuncture at Yifeng, Ermen and Zhongzhu acupoints on pathohistological and morphological changes of basilar membrane in guinea pigs with drug poisoning auditory injury

Ping FU; Changqing GUO; Enguang GENG

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

At present, there is no ideal way to treat auditory injury, and acupuncture would become an effective method to prevent and cure drug auditory injury.

OBJECTIVE:

To observe the effect of acupuncture at Yifeng, Ermen and Zhongzhu acupoints on improving histopathologic form of basilar membrane of guinea pig with drug poisoning auditory injury.

DESIGN:

Completely randomized design on the basis of experiment al animals.

SETTING:

Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences.MATERIALS A total of 45 white male guinea pigs with normal Preyer's reflex were selected in this study. Guinea pigs were 3-4 months old, of general grade and weighted from 250 g to 300 g. All guinea pigs were randomly divided into 5 groups normal group, model group, Yifeng group, Ermen group and Zhongzhu group with 9 in each group.

METHODS:

The experiment was completed at the Laboratory of College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Affiliated to Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April to July 2002. ① Normal group Guinea pigs were fed with normal feed. Other four groups Guinea pigs were injected into muscle with 80 mg/kg gentamycin for 20 days, and guinea pigs in Yifeng group, Ermen group and Zhongzhu group were acupunctured at corresponding acupoints at the same time. Before acupuncture, guinea pigs were fixed and rapidly acupunctured into subcutaneous tissue with stainless steel needle sized 0.35 mm × 25 mm. The needle was inserted about 10 mm. According to uniform reinforcing-reducing method, the needle was thrusted once every 10 minutes with each for 30 seconds and retained for 30 minutes. The course was 20 days. ② Basilar membrane of guinea pigs was established. Amount of hair cell was calculated under optic microscope (×200) to record deletion amount of hair cell and observe activity of succinic dehydrogenase; meanwhile, ultrastructure of hair cells was observed with transmission electron microscope (×5 000). Measurement data were compared with t test among groups.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

Activities of succinic dehydrogenase of hair cell in stretched preparation and changes of ultrastructure of hair cell in cochlea of guinea pigs.

RESULTS:

All 45 guinea pigs were revolved in the final analysis. ① Comparing activities of succinic dehydrogenase Activity in normal group was great, and structures of inter and outer hair cells were normal. Activity in mode group was reduced gradually till disappeared. Outer hair cell at base was damaged severely, and there was significant difference from that in normal group (P ＜ 0.01). Activity of succinic dehydrogenase in Yifeng group was changed a little as compared with that in normal group, and difference was not obviously (P ＞ 0.05). Activity of succinic dehydrogenase in Ermen group was decreased, and hair cell showed a little swelling and deletion. Activity of succinic dehydrogenase in Zhongzhu group was decreased remarkably, and outer hair cell at base was damaged severely.There was significant difference between Ermen group and Zhongzhu group as compared with that in normal group (P ＜ 0.01). ② Deletion amount of outer hair cells in basilar membrane of guinea pigs Amounts in Yifeng group, Ermen group and normal group were less than those in model group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01), but those in Zhongzhu group were similar to those in model group. ③ Ultrastructure Structure of hair cell of cochlea was normal in normal group, pathological changes were observed on hair cells in model group, and pathological changes in acupuncture groups were milder than those in model group. Pathological changes of outer hair cells were mild in Yifeng group, structure of hair cells was changed a little in Ermen group,pathological changes in Zhongzhu group were severe, but its degree was milder than that in model group.

CONCLUSION:

Acupuncture can improve and maintain the activity of succinic dehydrogenase, relieve or resist toxic effect of gentamycin, especially at Yifeng, then at Ermen and Zhongzhu.