Analysis of Nitric Oxide During Meridian Practices

描述（由申请人提供）：经络系统是针灸、气功和冥想等身心互动疗法的核心理论和指导原则。研究人员已经在人类和动物身上证明，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域的一氧化氮（NO）含量和神经元型NO合酶表达一致性增加。我们最近的研究表明，与非经络对照组相比，PC 4 ~ 7含4个穴位的区域NO含量升高，BL 56 ~ 57沿着含2个穴位的区域有升高趋势。与非酶促NO生成的假定作用一致，通过使用次氯酸钠减少皮肤表面上的细菌来降低穴位/经络中增强的NO水平。此外，初步数据显示，在冥想练习过程中，PC穴位和经络的NO含量增加。我假设1）非酶NO的产生和神经元NO的合成有助于增强NO生成的穴位/经络;和2）经络的做法诱导NO的产生介导的化学-电活动的穴位/经络的生物物理特性。 鉴于经络系统的关键重要性和未开发的领域，我们的主要目标是：1）确定局部NO水平是否2）确定非酶NO产生和/或神经元NO合成是否有助于穴位/经络中NO水平的提高; 3）确定电刺激和温度刺激是否诱导低电阻的穴位/经络产生NO：4）检查针刺是否诱导沿沿着向经络通路的NO产生/释放;和5）调查气功和/或冥想练习是否主要增加穴位和经络中NO的产生。用一种特殊的装置从穴位和经络线的皮肤表面收集的NO代谢物的定量将与经络实践中的生理/药理操作相结合，以验证人体中的假设。本研究结果将有助于我们进一步了解穴位/经络内内源性NO的产生/释放在针灸、气功和冥想练习中的作用，并对非酶NO产生和神经元NO合成对经络低皮肤电阻功能的化学-电活动的影响产生新的见解。

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.