Effect of Acupuncture on Partial Oxygen Pressure and Microcirculatory Blood Perfusion of Deep Tissues along Stomach Meridian

Objective To observe the partial oxygen pressure and microcirculatory blood perfusion of deep tissues along stomach meridian under normal state and their variation during acupuncture,and discuss the characteristics of energy metabolism in the deep tissues along stomach meridian and non-meridian,of stomach meridian acupoints and non-acupoints.Methods 6 testing spots were selected.Four of them are acupoints,which are Futu(ST32),Yinshi(ST33),Zusanli(ST36) and Shangjuxu(ST37),While the other two are non-acupoints,which are the middle point of the line between ST32 and ST33,and the middle point of the line between ST36 and ST37.Meanwhile two contrasting non-meridian points were adopted on the bilateral sides of each testing spot,1.5-2 cm apart.All points were divided into stomach meridian acupoints group,stomach meridian non-acupoints group,and contrasting non-meridian points groups.The two testing indexes were kept under observation for 60 minutes simultaneously,and the changes before and after the electroacupuncture and during electroacupuncturing at Jiexi(ST41) were observed.Results Under normal state the partial oxygen pressure and microcirculatory blood perfusion in deep tissues along stomach meridian are higher than that along bilateral contrasting non-meridian lines.After the electroacupuncture and during electroacupuncturing at ST41,the partial oxygen pressure on testing spots along stomach meridian decreased significantly(P0.01),and the decreasing amplitude of the partial oxygen pressure in stomach meridian acupoints group was higher than that in stomach meridian non-acupoints group(P0.01).There was no significant difference in microcirculatory blood perfusion among the groups.Conclusion Some specific acupoints,which have more oxygen and play an important role in the regulation process of meridian,exist in the channel of meridian.