Analysis of Nitric Oxide During Meridian Practices

说明（由申请人提供）：经络系统是针灸、气功、冥想等身心相互作用治疗的中心理论和指导原则。研究者已经在人类和动物身上证明了穴位/经络具有低电阻的特性。我们发现大鼠皮肤三个经络区一氧化氮（NO）含量和神经元NO合成酶表达持续升高。我们最近的研究表明，与非经络对照相比，含有4个穴位的pc4至7的NO含量增加，并且沿两个穴位的bl56至57的NO含量有增加的趋势。与非酶促NO生成的假设作用一致，使用次氯酸钠减少皮肤表面的细菌可以降低穴位/经络中增加的NO水平。此外，初步数据显示，在冥想练习中，PC穴和经络的NO含量增加。我假设：1)非酶促NO生成和神经元NO合成促进了穴位/经络中NO的生成；2)经络实践诱导一氧化氮的产生，介导穴位/经络生物物理特性的化学-电活动。

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.