解谿(ST41) 유침 및 전침의 전ㆍ후처치가 loperamide로 억제된 흰쥐의 장운동에 미치는 영향

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (EA) of low and high frequencies at Haegye (ST41) in rats. Methods: The intestinal motility of rats was experimentally suppressed with loperamide. Acupuncture, low frequency EA and high frequency EA were carried out before the loperamide administration in the pre-treatment group, and after the loperamide administration in the post-treatment group. The rats were fed charcoal and the travel rate of charcoal in the gastrointestinal track was measured to analyze the effect of acupuncture, low frequency EA and high frequency EA on the intestinal hypo-motility. Results: 1. None of acupuncture, low frequency EA or high frequency EA at ST41 showed significant influences on intestinal motility of rats in normal status. 2. Pre-treatment with acupuncture at ST41 showed no significant effect on the intestinal hypo-motility induced by loperamide in rats. 3. Pre-treatment with low frequency EA and high frequency EA at ST41 significantly reduced the suppression of intestinal motility by loperamide in rats. 4. Post-treatment of acupuncture, low frequency EA and high frequency EA at ST41 had no significant influences on the intestinal hypo-motility induced by loperamide in rats. Conclusions: These results suggest that low and high frequency EA at ST41 may be effective to prevent gastric disorders such as intestinal hypo-motility.