[Construction of acupoint atlas for experimental rats]

To expand the existing database of point location in experimental rats based on literature research, and draw the body and three-dimensional atlas of points in rats, so as to provide a visual reference of the points and meridians for experimental acupuncture study in rats.

The research was composed of three parts:literature investigation, drawing rat point atlas on the physical body, and constructing rat three-dimensional point atlas. The methods of locating points in rats were screened and sorted out by searching relevant literature in China national knowledge infrastructure database, Wanfang database and PubMed. Combined with the anatomical characteristics of rats, the body proportion measurement and body surface anatomy were used to mark the points on rat body, and draw the rat point atlas on the physical body. Using Vet-anatomy, Adobe Illustrator, Goodnotes and other softwares for image processing, the three-dimensional point atlas and a part of the meridian course map of rats were developed.

A total of 148 rat points were identified based on literature research, of which, 124 points were located according to body surface anatomy, 15 points based on body proportional measurement and 9 points in terms of the above two methods combined. The points were mostly identified from the Bladder Meridian, followed by the Governor Vessel, the Conception Vessel and the Stomach Meridian. The point atlas on the real rat body was developed, the three-dimensional atlas of rat points, and the running courses of a part of meridians were constructed. The locating methods and descriptions of all 148 points were described and summarized in a table.

This study provides the map of 148 acupoints in rats and the running courses of some meridians, which is conducive to promoting the study on the standardization of rat points and meridians.