Effects of different-intensity laser acupuncture at two adjacent same-meridian acupoints on nitric oxide and soluble guanylate cyclase releases in human.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to detect the influences of LA at nonacupoint and two adjacent acupoints of pericardium meridian on the releases of NO and sGC in 20 healthy subjects. METHODS: Different intensities (12, 24, 48 mW) of infrared laser were used for irradiating Jianshi (PC5), Ximen (PC4) acupoints and nonacupoint for 20, 40 minutes, respectively. Semi-circular tubes were taped to the skin surface and filled with NO-scavenging compound for 20 minutes to capture NO and sGC, which were measured using spectrophotometry in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: As the increase in the intensity of LA stimulation, the levels of NO releases over acupoints all were significantly increased, NO releases in nonacupoints following the same treatment only changed slightly, sGC amounts were observably enhanced over acupoints, but did not any change in nonacupoint area. Different intensities of LA treatments can sensitively affect the NO and sGC releases over acupoints. This indicated that LA-induced releases of the NO and sGC were specific to acupoints. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evidence reporting that LA induced significant elevations of NO-sGC releases over acupoints, and the enhanced signal molecules contribute to local circulation, which improves the beneficial effects of the therapy.

Changes in Nitric Oxide Releases of the Contralateral Acupoint during and after Laser Acupuncture at Bilateral Same-Name Acupoints in Human.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of laser acupuncture (LA) at right Neiguan (RPC6)/left Neiguan (LPC6) acupoints on the releases of nitric oxide (NO) in the treated and contralateral/nontreated PC6, compared to the nonacupoint control area. METHODS: 24 mW LA at RPC6, LPC6, and nonacupoint in 22 healthy subjects for 40 min: sterilized dialysis tube was taped to the nontreated PC6/nonacupoint during the treatment and immediately taped to the treated and nontreated PC6/nonacupoint after LA removal. NO-scavenging compound was injected into the tube for 40 min to absorb the molecular which was tested by spectrophotometry in a blinded fashion. RESULTS: LA-induced NO releases over PC6 acupoints for the nontreated and treated sides all significantly increased after LA removal, but for the nontreated acupoints they did not change during LA stimulation. LA at RPC6 induced the more release of the NO at contralateral side than stimulating LPC6, but not on nonacupoints. The results suggest that LA-induced NO release over contralateral acupoint and NO release resulting from the lateralized specificity all are different and specific to the acupoint within different time course. CONCLUSIONS: LA-evoked NO release over acupoints could improve the neurogenic, endothelial activity of the vessel wall to further facilitate microcirculation.