An Electron Microscopic Study of the Acupuncture or Moxibustion Stimulated Regional Skin and Lymph Node in Experimental Animals

Ultrastructures of the electro-acupunture or moxibustion stimulated skin and regional lymph nodes in experiment animals were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the scanning electron microscopy, small numbers of infiltrating erythrocytes and lymphocytes were found in the vicinity of the penetrated acupunture needle in the acupunture-stimulated skin, whereas moxibustion-treated instances revealed a large number of immunocyte infiltrations in the region. Transmission electron microscopically revealed that immunocytes consisted of lymphocytes, monocytes and some granulocytes and mast cells. In addition, the moxibustion-stimulated regional lymph nodes increased in weight after the stimulation and induced numerous immunocyte influx through afferent lymphatics. The acupunture-stimulated nodes, however, revealed no remarkable change in the weight and morphology. A functional significance of the acupunture and moxibustion-stimulated skin and regional nodes was discussed in reference to previous immunohistological descriptions of immune-reacted lymph node of the same animals.