[Effect of electroacupuncture or moxibustion of "Tianshu" (ST25) on intragastric pressure in rats].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of electroacupunctur (EA) and moxibustion of left or right "Tian-shu" (ST25) on intragastric pressure (IGP) in normal rats.

METHODS

Twenty male SD rats were equally and randomly divided into EA group and moxibustion group. EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 2 mA) or moxibustion (46-48 ℃) was applied to unilate-ral ST25 for 2 min. The IGP was detected by using a pressure-transducer and an amplifier before and after EA or moxibustion.

RESULTS

Compared with pre-intervention, the IGP was significantly decreased after EA or moxibustion stimulation of both left and right ST25 (<0.05). The IGP levels during 0-30 s and 30-60 s of EA stimulation of both left and right ST25 were significantly lower than those of moxibustion (<0.05). The IGP-lowering effect of EA on the left ST25 was evidently stronger than that of the right ST25 (<0.05), but without significant difference between the bilateral sides in moxibustion-induced IGP reduction (>0.05).

CONCLUSION

Both EA and moxibustion of ST25 can lower IGP, and the effect of EA is significantly stronger than that of moxibustion in normal rats. In addition, the IGP-lowering effect of EA of the left ST25 is markedly stronger than that of the right ST25, suggesting a lateral advantage effect.