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eCAM Advance Access published online on February 12, 2009
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep009
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© 2009 The Author(s).
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Acupuncture at ‘Zusanli’ (St.36) and ‘Sanyinjiao’ (SP.6) Points on the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Study of the Bioavailability of 99mTc-Sodium Pertechnetate in Rats

Vasco Senna-Fernandes1,2,3, Daisy L. M. França1,2,3, Deise de Souza2, Kelly C. M. Santos2, Rafael S. Sousa2, Cristiano V. Manoel2, Sebastião D. Santos-Filho2, Mario Bernardo-Filho2 and Marco Antonio M. Guimarães1

1Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas (PGCM), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), 2Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ and 3Academia Brasileira de Arte e Ciência Oriental/Colégio Brasileiro de Acupuntura (ABACO/CBA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The objective of this study is to investigate the differences of acupuncture effect between the Zusanli (St.36) and Sanyinjiao (SP.6) points on the gastrointestinal-tract (GIT) segment performed by the bioavailability of 99mTc-sodium-pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 21) were allocated into three groups of seven each. Group 1 was treated by acupuncture bilaterally at St.36; Group 2 at SP.6; and Group 3 was untreated (control). After 10 min of needle insertion in anesthetized rats, 0.3 ml of Na99mTcO4 (7.4 MBq) was injected via ocular-plexus. After 20 min, the exitus of animals was induced by cervical-dislocation and GIT organs isolated. However, immediately before the exitus procedure, blood was collected by cardiac-puncture for blood radio-labeling (BRL).The radioactivity uptake of the blood constituents was calculated together with the GIT organs by a well gamma counter. The percentage of injected dose per gram of tissue (%ID/g) of Na99mTcO4 was calculated for each GIT organs, while BRL was calculated in%ID. According to the one-way ANOVA, the stomach, jejunum, ileum from the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2) had significant differences compared to the controls (Group 3). However, between the treated groups (Group 1 and Group 2), there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the stomach, jejunum, ileum, cecum, transverse and rectum. In BRL analysis, Group 2 showed significant increase and decrease of the insoluble and soluble fractions of the blood cells, respectively (P < 0.0001). The authors suggest that St.36 may have a tendency of up-regulation effect on GIT, whereas SP.6, down-regulation effect. However, further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness of acupuncture in either acupuncture points need to be carried out.

Keywords: acupuncture – bioavailability – Sanyinjiao point (SP.6) – sodium pertechnetate – Zusanli point (St.36)

For reprints and all correspondence: Vasco Senna-Fernandes, Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). Av. 28 de setembro, 87, CEP: 20551-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Tel/Fax: +55-21-25876432; E-mail: vascosf888{at}yahoo.com.br

Received January 30, 2008; accepted December 23, 2008


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