Analysis of Nitric Oxide During Meridian Practices

描述(申请人提供)：经络系统是针灸、启功、冥想等与身心互动相关的治疗的中心理论和指导原则。研究人员已经在人类和动物身上证明了穴位/经络具有低电阻的特征。我们发现，在大鼠的三个经络皮肤区，一氧化氮(NO)含量和神经元型一氧化氮合酶的表达持续增加。我们最近的研究表明，在包含4个穴位的PC 4到7中，NO含量增加，并且在BL56到57中，与人类非经络对照相比，有两个穴位的区域的NO含量有增加的趋势。与非酶促NO生成的假设作用一致，穴位/经络中增强的NO水平通过使用次氯酸钠来减少皮肤表面的细菌而减少。此外，初步数据显示，在冥想练习中，PC穴位和经络上的NO含量都有所增加。我假设1)非酶NO的产生和神经元的NO合成有助于穴位/经络NO生成的增加；2)经络练习诱导NO的产生，从而为穴位/经络的生物物理特征介导化学-电活性。 鉴于经络系统的关键重要性和未知领域，我们的主要目标是：1)确定穴位和/或经络区域局部NO水平(NOx浓度)是否选择性增加；2)确定非酶NO生成和/或神经元NO合成是否有助于穴位/经络NO水平的升高；3)确定电和温度刺激是否诱导与低电阻平行的穴位/经络NO产生；4)研究针刺是否诱导经络双向通路中NO的产生/释放；以及5)研究启功和/或冥想练习是否主要增加穴位和经络中NO的生成。用一种特殊的设备从穴位和经线的皮肤表面收集NO代谢物的量化将与经络实践中的生理/药物操作相结合，以验证人体的假说。这一结果将有助于我们理解内源性NO的产生/释放在针刺、启功和穴位/经络冥想中的作用，并对非酶NO的产生和神经元NO的合成对经络低皮肤电阻功能的化学-电活动的影响提供新的见解。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The meridian system is the central theory and guiding principle for therapies related to mind-body interactions such as acupuncture, Qi Gong and meditation. Investigators have demonstrated in both humans and animals that acupoints/meridians possess characteristics of low electric resistance. We have found that nitric oxide (NO) contents and neuronal NO synthase expressions are consistently increased in three meridian skin regions in rats. Our recent studies reveal that NO contents are increased over PC 4 to 7 containing 4 acupoints and tended to increase in BL 56 to 57 along the region with two acupoints compared to nonmeridian control in humans. Consistent with the postulated role of nonenzymatic NO generation, enhanced NO levels in the acupoints/meridians are reduced by using sodium hypochlorite to reduce bacteria on skin surface. Furthermore, preliminary data show that NO contents are increased over PC acupoints and meridian during meditation practice. I hypothesize that 1) Nonenzymatic NO production and neuronal NO synthesis contribute to enhanced NO generation in acupoint/meridians; and 2) Meridian practices induce NO generation which mediates chemical-electrical activity for the biophysical characteristics of acupoints/meridians. In view of the critical importance and unexplored territory of the meridian system, our major aims are: 1) Define whether local NO levels (NOx- concentrations) are selectively increased in the acupoints and/or in the meridian regions; 2) Determine if nonenzymatic NO generation and/or neuronal NO synthesis contribute to enhanced NO levels in acupoints/meridians; 3) Identify if electrical and temperature stimulation induces NO production in acupoints/meridians paralleled to low electrical resistance; 4) Examine whether acupuncture induces NO production/release along dual directions of meridian pathways; and 5) Investigate whether Qi Gong and/or meditation practices predominantly increase NO generation in the acupoints and meridians. Quantification of NO metabolites collected from the skin surface of acupoints and meridian lines with a special device will be integrated with physiological/pharmacological manipulations during meridian practices to test the hypotheses in humans. The results should advance our understanding of the roles of endogenous NO generation/release in responses to acupuncture, Qi Gong and meditation practices m the acupoints/meridians, and yield new insights regarding the effects of non-enzymatic NO generation and neuronal NO synthesis on chemical-electrical activity of the low skin resistance function of meridians.