[Effect of electroacupuncture on the sympathetic nervous, endocrine and metabolic functions]

Electroacupuncture (1.5 volts, 0.13 msec duration, 5 Hz for 10 min) was applied to the ten sites of lumbodorsal region in women aged 20 to 47. Immediately after the acupuncture plasma noradrenalin concentration significantly increased 9 out of 20 subjects, while it decreased in 11. Plasma noradrenaline returned to the intitial level in both groups 30 min after the acupuncture. In the noradrenaline elevated group plasma insulin concentration and plasma insulin/glucagon molar ratio significantly decreased until 30 min after the acupuncture. Such changes were not observed in the noradrenaline decreased group. Plasma glucagon, dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, free fatty acids, glycerol, creatine kinase and blood glucose were not changed in both groups.