48 The effect of electrical acupuncture points on fasting and postprandial gastroduodenal myoelectric activities and brain gut peptide release in rats

Objective: To evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electrical acupuncture point stimulation (TEAS) on sperm parameters and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods: A total of 121 patients diagnosed with oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia or oligoasthenozoospermia were randomised into four groups (three treatment groups, one control): the TEAS groups were treated with 2 Hz (n=31), 100 Hz (n=31), or mock stimulation (n=29) at acupuncture points BL23, ST36, CV1 and CV4 for 2 months. The control group (n=30) was provided with lifestyle advice only. Results The changes in total sperm count and motility in the 2 Hz TEAS group were significantly greater than those in the mock group and the control group. The change in neutral α-glucosidase (NAG) and zinc levels in the 2 Hz group were significantly greater than those in the mock group and control group, and the changes in fructose levels of the 2 Hz group were significantly greater than those in the control group. Significant increases in calcium and integrin-binding protein 1 (CIB1) and reduction of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 b (CDK1) were also found after 2 Hz TEAS treatment. Conclusions The present findings suggest that 2 Hz TEAS can improve sperm count and motility in patients with abnormal semen parameters, and is associated with increases in seminal plasma zinc, NAG and fructose. The upregulation of CIB1 and downregulation of CDK1 by TEAS may be associated with its positive effects on sperm motility and count. Trial registration: http://www.chictr.org ; registration no. ChiCTR-TRC-11001775.

Download Full-text

A Characteristic Estimation of Bio-Signals for Electro-Acupuncture Stimulations in Human Subjects

The American Journal of Chinese Medicine ◽

10.1142/s0192415x09007016 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 37 (03) ◽

pp. 505-517 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Min Soo Kim ◽

Young Chang Cho ◽

Joo Hyun Moon ◽

Sok Cheon Pak

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Skin Resistance ◽

Low Frequency ◽

Skin Impedance ◽

Acupuncture Points ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Electrical Acupuncture ◽

Eeg Changes ◽

Stimulation Of

This research evaluates the effect of physiological responses during electrical acupuncture (EA) stimulation on specific acupuncture points (APs: PC5 and PC6). A variety of special responses in the human body were determined by electroencephalogram (EEG), heart rate (HR) in an electrocardiogram (ECG), and skin impedance test for 2 groups, sham group as a control and a group under acupuncture stimulation. The total stimulation time in this study was set for 5 min since the effect of EA on all recorded parameters became stable within this period. According to the experiments, during EA stimulation of PC5 and PC6, the power spectrum of EEG showed that the number of low frequency waves was increased in all lobes. Heart rate variability measures of 10 subjects stimulation trials at PC6 and PC5 were compared to 10 subjects who received no stimulation treatment. In both the AP and the sham groups, the mean R-R interval increased significantly during EA stimulation. A comparison between the AP and non-AP group in terms of skin resistance measurement experiments revealed no difference in skin resistance. The results of this study verified that EA stimulation of APs (PC5, PC6) causes EEG changes, and ECG heart rate changes. However, from human skin impedance measurements, the beneficial effects were not sustained. These results may be helpful in the understanding of the mechanism underlying the effect of electrical acupuncture on PC6 and PC5.

Download Full-text