[Effect of somatostatin on functions of acupuncture meridians]

Our previous studies have showed that analogue electroacupuncture (EA) could induce a transmission of electrical signals along meridians, and excitatory neurotransmitters such as substance P and glutamate were involved in the transmission process. In recent studies, our results showed that somatostatin and its receptors played a dose-dependent tonic inhibition on the discharge rates of original and adjacent nerves innervating the acupoints. In addition, there existed an interaction between somatostatin and glutamate. These results suggest that the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters plays an important role in the function activities of acupoints and meridians.