Catecholamine-storing Cells at Acupuncture Points of Rabbits

Schematic illustration of the location of the Conception Vessel (CV) meridian and acupoint CV12 (Zhongwan) in rabbits. CV12 is located on the ventral midline of the abdomen, at the midpoint between the xiphoid process and the umbilicus.

Measurement of the location of noradrenaline (NA)-storing cells in skin sections (CV12). (A) NA-storing cells (circle) are shown as a small cluster which was located near a blood vessel (arrow). Cell nuclei (blue) were stained with DAPI. Magnification 400x. (B) Low-magnified image shows the distance from the center point (acupoint) to the location of NA-storing cells (rectangle). (C) The data on the location of NA-storing cells are presented as a point in the graph. The distance from the centre to the location of the NA-storing cells is given in mm.

Immunofluorescence staining for detection of catecholamine-storing cells in the acupoint area of CV12 (A–C) and the adrenal gland (D–F). The left panel shows noradrenaline (green). In the center panel is adrenaline (red) and the right panel shows the merged images where cell nuclei (blue) were stained with DAPI. (C) Only noradrenaline-storing cells were found inside a globular tissue formation. Magnification 500x. (D–F) Noradrenaline- and adrenaline-storing chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla. Magnification 250x.

The locations of noradrenaline (NA)-storing cells in six representative samples are presented in two-dimensional plane. A distance from the center to the points of the location of NA-storing cells is given in mm.

(A) Stereomicroscopic image of a skin section of CV12 clearly showing the location of a globular tissue formation surrounded by blood vessels and capillaries (rectangle). The position of the globular structure in the section was defined by X- and Y-direction, in the point of intersection × = 0.9 mm and y = −2.6 mm. (B-D) Magnified view of the rectangle in Figure 5A. (B) Fluorescence image showing a distribution of cell nuclei (blue) in the globular formation (circle). (C) Blood vessels and capillaries (arrow). (D) Merge image of Figures B and C showing the globular formation (circle) surrounded by blood vessels. Small blood capillaries are observed in the central part of the globular formation. Magnification 250x.