[Effects of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on ultrastructure of gastrocnemius in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the efficacy differences in early intervention of different acupuncture and moxibustion methods on gastrocnemius fatigue in rats induced by electrical stimulation. METHODS: Fifty male SD rats were randomly divided into a control group, a model group, a hand acupuncture group, an electroacupuncture group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve was given in the control group and gastrocnemius fatigue test was induced by electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve in the model group after anesthesia without other treatment, but just take 6 times interval stimulation in the control group. The hand acupuncture group, the electroacupuncture group and the moxibustion group were treated with the corresponding acupoints stimulation method respectively for 20 min before gastrocnemius fatigue test, and Dazhui (GV 14) and Zusanli (ST 36) were selected. Immediately after gastrocnemius fatigue test, three or four gastrocnemius tissues at the same site on the right side were quickly taken for making specimen for transmission electron microscope (TEM). The changes of skeletal muscle ultrastructure of myofibrils, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, glycogen particles were observed under TEM. RESULTS: (1) Muscle fibers disorder, partial mitochondrial vacuolization and glycogen particles smaller were shown in the model group. (2) No abnormalities were shown in the hand acupuncture group and the moxibustion group with mitochondrial morphology and number, which better than that in the model group, and glycogen particles increased. (3) Abnormal changes in morphology were shown in the electroacupuncture group with part of the muscle fibers derangement, Z line malalignment and a few mitochondria vacuolization. CONCLUSION: Hand acupuncture, electroacupuncture and moxibustion have the different effects on ultrastructure of gastrocoemius in rats. Acupuncture and moxibustion have shown good effects on the prevention and treatment of exercise-induced skeletal muscle cell and organelle damage and delaying exercise-induced fatigue.

[Effect of acupuncture on regulating skeletal muscle endurance in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of acupuncture on skeletal muscle endurance in rats as a pre-games assistant training. METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control, model and acupuncture group. Acupuncture group was treated at "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Housanli" (ST 36) by twisting mild reinforcing-reducing method for 20 min, no interventions were added on control and model group. Muscle strength was detected in three groups under anaesthetic (after model established in model group, after model established and treated in acupuncture group). Averaged change percentage of mean skeletal muscle endurance (P(m)) and averaged maximum percentage of skeletal muscle endurance (P(max)) were evaluated. RESULTS: (1) 10P(m) in model group decreased more than acupuncture group statistically (P < 0.05); 20P(m), 30P(m) and 40P(m) in model group decreased significantly compared to those in control group and acupuncture group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). (2) Changes of 10P(max) in acupuncture group was much less than in model group (P < 0.05); changes of 20P(max), 30P(max), 40P(max) and 50P(max) decreased more in model group than in acupuncture group and control group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As an assistant training method, acupuncture can postpone descending point of muscle strength endurance to delay sport fatigue.

[Effects of manual acupuncture and electroacupuncture on Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase Activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in rats during acute swimming exercise].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) and electroacupuncture (EA) on Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in rats of acute swimming exercise (ASE) so as to reveal its underlying mechanism in strengthening motor abilities. METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were randomly divided into control, model, MA and EA groups, with 15 cases in each. Rats in MA group and EA group were treated respectively with MA (120-140 twirlings/min, 30-60 s/time every 3-5 min) and EA (500-800 Hz, 0.20-0.25 mA) stimulation of "Dazhui" (GV 14), "Mingmen" (GV 4), "Huantiao" (GB 30) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) for 20 min before ASE. After ASE (120 min), the rats anesthetized with urethane (1 g/kg) were killed for sampling skeletal muscles (quadriceps muscle of thigh) and for detecting Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity with thymol blue chromatometry and chemical chromatometry respectively. Results In comparison with control group, Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in model group were obviously lower (P < 0.01, 0.05); while compared with model group, both Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity in sarcoplasmic reticulum in MA and EA groups increased significantly (P < 0.01). The activity of Ca2+ -ATPase of MA group was evidently higher than that of control group (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between MA and EA groups in Ca2+ content and Ca2+ -ATPase activity (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Both MA and EA can increase Ca2+ -ATPase activity and Ca2+ content in sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle cells in motor fatigue rats, which may contribute to their effects in strengthening motor ability.