Effect of manual acupuncture on bowel motility in normal kunming mouse

To observe the effects of acupuncture on motility of jejunum and distal colon at different acupoints on normal Kunming mice.

The jejunal and colorectal motor activity of forty Kunming mice were recorded by the intra-intestinal capsule. The capsules contained with distilled water were placed into the cavities of jejunum and distal colon. The changes of bowel were compared with the background activity recorded before any stimulation. The chosen acupoints were as follows: Zusanli (ST 36) on the lower legs, Tianshu (ST 25) on the mid-lower abdomen.

Manual acupuncture (MA) at Zusanli (ST 36) significantly promoted the motility of jejunum and distal colon (manifested as increased change rate of average amplitude and increased change rate of mean area under the contractile curve) of normal Kunming mice (P < 0.01). MA at Tianshu (ST 25) significantly inhibited the motility of jejunum (manifested as decreased change rate of average amplitude, decreased change rate of mean area under the contractile curve, and the reduced frequency) of normal Kunming mice (P < 0.01), while significantly increased the distal colonic motility (manifested as increased amplitude and increased mean area under the contractile curve) of normal Kunming mice (P < 0.01).

MA at specific acupoints [Zusanli (ST 36), Tianshu (ST 25)] has different effects on the motility of jejunum and distal colon, which might involve the segmental innervations of the related nerve.