Effect of Zusanli (ST.36) Electroacupuncture at Two Frequencies on the Bioavailability of 99mTc-Sodium Pertechnetate and on Labeling of Blood Constituents in Rats

Senna-Fernandes, Vasco; França, Daisy L; Santos, Kelly CM; Sousa, Rafael S; Silva, Dilson; Cortez, Célia M; Bernardo-Filho, Mario; Guimarães, Marco AM

doi:10.1016/S2005-2901(09)60046-7

« Previous Next »Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
Volume 2, Issue 2 , Pages 135-146, June 2009

Effect of Zusanli (ST.36) Electroacupuncture at Two Frequencies on the Bioavailability of ^99mTc-Sodium Pertechnetate and on Labeling of Blood Constituents in Rats

Vasco Senna-Fernandes
- Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas (PGCM), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Academia Brasileira de Arte e Ciência Oriental/Colégio Brasileiro de Acupuntura (ABACO/CBA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Corresponding author. Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas (PGCM) – Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ); Av. 28 de setembro, 87, CEP: 20551-030, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
Daisy L França
- Pós-Graduação de Ciências Médicas (PGCM), Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Academia Brasileira de Arte e Ciência Oriental/Colégio Brasileiro de Acupuntura (ABACO/CBA), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Kelly CM Santos
- Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rafael S Sousa
- Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dilson Silva
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Célia M Cortez
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Mario Bernardo-Filho
- Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Marco AM Guimarães
- Departamento de Biofísica e Biometria, Instituto de Biologia Roberto Alcântara Gomes (IBRAG), UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract

Objectives

A study was performed on the effects of stimulation at Zusanli-point (ST.36) by electroacupuncture (EA) at two frequencies on the bioavailability of ^99mTc-sodium pertechnetate (Na^99mTcO₄) in rats.

Methods

Forty Wistar rats were divided into four groups: untreated control, treated by manual acupuncture at ST.36 bilaterally, treated by EA at 2 Hz at ST.36 bilaterally, and the same site at 100 Hz bilaterally. Na^99mTcO₄(7.4 MBq) was administrated via the ocular-plexus and, 20 minutes before sacrifice, blood was withdrawn for radiolabeling assay (BRL). In the bioavailability analysis, organs and tissues were isolated, their radioactivity determined, and the percentage of injected dose per gram of organ or tissue (%ID/g) and the %ID were calculated for each organ or tissue (%ID/ot). For BRL, the plasma and blood cells isolated, and the fractions also precipitated with 5% trichloroacetic acid to separate the soluble and insoluble fractions; these were assessed as percentage of injected dose (%ID) in blood (%ID/b).

Results

The results showed significant differences in the %ID/g in some organs and tissues in comparison with controls; lung (p = 0.0013), spleen (p = 0.0085), pancreas (p = 0.0167), liver (p = 0.0003), stomach (p<0.0001), small-intestine (p = 0.0181), large-intestine (p = 0.04099), urinary-bladder (p = 0.0271), thyroid (p< 0.0001), muscle (p = 0.0187); %ID/ot in spleen (p = 0.0349); and %ID/b in blood sample (p = 0.0235). In the blood labeling analyses, EA in either frequency significantly increased insoluble fraction/blood cells (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

These findings suggested that acupuncture procedures at ST.36 could modulate responses in some organs, tissues, and blood in rats. Further rigorous experimental studies to examine the effectiveness in either acupuncture therapy need to be pursued.

Key words: biological availability , electroacupuncture , frequencies , sodium pertechnetate Tc 99m , Zusanli-point (ST.36)