Electroacupuncture at ST37 Enhances Jejunal Motility via Excitation of the Parasympathetic System in Rats and Mice

Figure 3

Jejunal motility in response to EA at ST37 in the presence of drugs in rats. (a) Representative traces of jejunal motility regulated by EA without and with the administration of propranolol, clenbuterol, acetylcholine, or atropine. (b) Changes in jejunal pressure were detected before drug administration, before EA, and during EA in the control group, propranolol group, and clenbuterol group. Propranolol promoted jejunal pressure significantly, and clenbuterol inhibited jejunal pressure significantly. EA at ST37 promoted jejunal pressure in all the groups significantly. (c) Changes in jejunal pressure were detected before drug administration, before EA, and during EA in the control group, acetylcholine group, and atropine group. Acetylcholine promoted jejunal pressure significantly and atropine inhibited jejunal pressure significantly. EA at ST37 enhanced jejunal pressure in the acetylcholine group, but it had no effect in the atropine group. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM ( rats at each time period per group). versus pre-drug value; versus pre-EA value; paired t-test. (d) Percentage increased in jejunal pressure following EA in all five experimental groups. Promotion of jejunal motility with EA is significantly lower in the atropine group than in the other groups. Data are expressed as mean ± SEM ( rats). versus control group, versus clenbuterol group and versus propranolol group; independent-samples t-test. EA: electroacupuncture; prop: propranolol; clen: clenbuterol; Ach: acetylcholine.

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