Effect of Acupuncture and Electro-acupuncture at PC6 on Intestinal Motility in Rats

내관 자침 및 전침이 흰쥐의 장운동에 미치는 영향

Objectives and Methods : The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (EA) at PC6 on intestinal motility in rats. We made over-activated state of intestinal motility with carbachol and suppressed state of intestinal motility with loperamide in rat, and carried out acupuncture with needle retained (NR), low frequency (2 Hz) EA and high frequency (100 Hz) EA at PC6 before or after the administration of carbachol or loperamide. The charcoal travel rate was measured to evaluate the intestinal motility. Results : 1. NR showed no significant influences on intestinal motility of rat in normal state. While, 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA at PC6 significantly increased the intestinal motility of rat in normal state. 2. All of the pre-treatment and post-treatment of NR, 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA at PC6 showed no significant effects on intestinal motility of rat which was over-activated with carbachol. 3. Both pre-treatment and post-treatment of NR significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which was suppressed with loperamide. 4. Pre-treatment of 2 Hz EA and post-treatment of 100 Hz EA significantly increased intestinal motility in rat which was suppressed with loperamide. Conclusions : These results suggest that acupuncture (NR) and EA on PC6 have preventive and therapeutic effect on suppressed intestinal motility, and NR may be more effective than EA in that condition.