[Radionuclide study of acupuncture points].

During recent years, upon investigation of the meridian which is an important part of the traditional concept in Chinese medicine, we have obtained several significant findings using radionuclide: 1. By subcutaneous injection (SC) of Tc-99m pertechnetate at acupuncture points K-3 and B-60, it was found that certain acupuncture points may be closely related to the venous drainage. 2. A new technique of radionuclide venography, namely SC-RNV of the lower limbs, was established through the above study. The SC-RNV subsequently proved to be clinically available in diagnosis of DVT and calf varicose veins. By SC injection of Tc-99m pertechnetate at various acupuncture points (APP) and nonacupuncture points (non-APP) it seemed that not every APP is closely related to venous drainage, and so is not the non-APP. As for the mechanism of SC-RNV, through SC injection of T1-201 chloride and Ga-67 citrate at K-3 respectively, it was found that the Na-K pumping system may play a major role in the drainage of soft tissue fluid from the APP into th venous flow. We now continue to investigate the meridian with radionuclide and hope to understand more clearly the physiological function of the APP, especially its relationship with the veins.