Objective: To observe the effect of electrical stimulation of acupoints on the energy metabolism.

Methods: 32 male SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into control group, limb-point ("Zusanli- ST36; "Chengshan" - BL 57) group, trunk-point ("Dazhui" - DU l4; "Mingmen"-DU 4) group and combination group ("Zusanli- ST36, ,Chengshan" - BL 57, "Dazhui" - DU l4,"Mingmen"- DU 4). These acupoints were stimu1ated with an Acupoint Stimulator (AES-2Type) by setting the stimu1ating parameters as frequency of 800Hz, duration of 15min and modulated waves of sound-frequency. After stimulation, these fats were killed for collecting samples of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh and the triceps of the leg. Then succinate dehydrogenase (LDH), ATPase and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) contents were determined by using histochemical methods.

Results: After electrical stimulation of the aforementioned acupoints, LDH content and activity both in the quadriceps muscle of the thigh and the triceps of the leg increased in comparison with those of control group. There were significant differences between limb-point group and control group and between combination group and control group in LDH content and enzyme activity (P<0.05, 0.01). The effect of combination group on LDH content in the quadriceps muscle of the thigh was obviously superior to that of limb-point group and trunk-point group (P<0.05); and the effect of combination group on LDH content in the triceps of the leg was superior to that of trunk-point group (P<0.05). The effects of acupoint-stimulation on ATPase content including Ca2+-ATPase, Mg2+-ATPase and Na+-K+- ATPase both in the quadriceps muscle of the thigh and the triceps of the 1eg in these 3 experimenta1 groups present a similar tendency in comparison with results of LDH. After acupoint stimulation, CPK contents of the quadriceps muscle of the thigh in the 3 experimentaI groups all increased at different degrees in comparison with that of the control group.

Conclusion: Electrical stimulation of acupoints could improve the energy metabolism of the rat's skeletal muscle which may play a role in treatment of diseases.

　　By Yang Huayuan, Xie Jiayin, Gu Xunjie & Liu Tangyi.
　　Shanghai Institute of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Meridians, Shanghai 200030, China.