Effect Of Acupuncture On The Rate Of Cell-Electrophoresis Of The Rbc

Zheng Rongrong, Lin Yagu (Shanghai Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

Cell membranes play a central role in the organization of living cells, and are important structures for living bodies. They show distinctive and vital functions, such as selective permeability, osmosis of materials, active transportation, combating infection and immunization and so on. These functions directly relate to the molecular structure in cell surfaces, especially in relation with the density of surface electro-charges of cells. What is the effect of acupuncture on the density of these charges of red cells? We have not seen any report on this subject. The following are our experiments.

84 rabbits weighing about 2.5 kg were chosen. A small amount of blood was taken directly from heart puncture (both arterial and venous blood), and a drop of blood was diluted to the buffer solution of 9% pH 7.2 sucrose, to determine the rate of cell-electrophoresis, µ; and to calculate the density of surface electro-charges on the red cell, ë, by the formula ë = 3.53 X 10{4}  sin h X 0.039 s. Animals were treated with acupuncture. A series of moderate diagonal shaped impulses (out-put voltage 5 volts) was applied on both sides of acupoint "Zusanli". Determine the cell electrophoresis rate before and after acupuncture, and throughout the acupuncture period, and observe the physiological pattern in the controls throughout 24 hours. We found the following results:

1. After 30 minutes acupuncture on "Zusanli" of both legs, the effect on the density of surface electro-charges of the red cells is obvious. µ and ë values before and after acupuncture are changed apparently, P<0.001.

2. Under general anesthesia both sciatic nerves were cut off and there was no evident effect on the density of charges. Then acupuncture and compare the effect with that of 60 minutes after the anesthesia and cut off sciatic. The acupuncture also has an effect. The maximum effect is at 30 minutes after commencement of acupuncture, P<0.001; after 60 minutes the effect is decreased, P<0.5; 60 minutes after cessation of acupuncture the effect disappeared, P>0.5.

3. With a same strength of stimulation, we applied acupuncture for 120 minutes continually and found that at about 30 minutes the effect on ë and µ were prominent, P<0.001; at 60 minutes the effect decreased, 0.01<P<0.05; at 120 minutes the effect apparently disappeared, 0.5>P>0.3. An effective peak is reached at 60 minutes, and this accords with the pain suppression effect of acupuncture analgesia as seen in the clinic, which also shows an effective peak at 60 minutes.

4. 60 minutes after commencement of acupuncture, the first effective peak decreased. Then with a change of the strength and of the frequency of stimulation there appeared a second effective peak after 30 minutes of the stimulation, and 120 minutes after the effect it went down. This shows that a change in the stimulation pattern can be an important way to elevate the efficacy of acupuncture analgesia.

5. In physiological condition, in the control animals we observed the density of the surface charges, ë, and the cell-electrophoresis rate, µ. Three small peaks appeared at 12:30 of the noontide, at 7:30 p.m. and at 10:30 p.m. But these variations have no biological statistical significance, P>0.3 -- 0.5. Here, we believe that the effect of acupuncture on the density of the surface electro-charges of red cells is objectively present.

RESEARCH ON THE MECHANISMS OF ANALGESIC AND OTHER EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE AND MOXIBUSTION