“任主胞胎”是指导中医妇科临床诊疗的重要理论，但其科学内涵有待深入阐释。本项目在前期研究的基础上，提出“针刺治疗原发性痛经（PD）镇痛效应的中枢整合与靶器官响应之间存在联动性”的研究假说，以任脉穴针刺治疗的优势病种PD为研究载体，以关元穴为刺激点，针对PD脑功能紊乱和子宫血流灌注异常的重要病理变化，采用经典的功能磁共振成像技术和先进的动脉自旋标记技术，采集针刺治疗前、后PD患者大脑疼痛矩阵和子宫血流灌注数据，以及血管舒缩相关生化指标，通过影像数据之间的同步采集与实时融合分析、影像数据与效应指标的相关分析，从影响血管功能的角度，探讨针刺治疗PD中枢和靶器官响应特征及联动机制，以期更深入揭示针刺治疗PD的作用机制，为阐释“任主胞胎”理论的科学内涵提供依据。

“REN meridian connecting with the uterus and pregnancy” is an important theory for TCM diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases in clinical practice. However, its scientific connotation remains to be elucidated. Previous studies showed salient brain function abnormities and uterus malperfusion as main pathological features of primary dysmenorrhea. We therefore hypothesized that “there’s a correlation between central integration and target organ response in the efficacy of acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea ”. We designed the present project based on our previous finding, to characterize responsive traits of central nervous system and target organ that are regulated by acupuncture treatment for primary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea patients will be recruited to receive acupuncture reatment. The acupoint applied in this study is Guanyuan (Ren 4) in Ren-conception vessel. Classical Bold-fMRI and ASL technologies will be integrated together to acquire data of brain pain matrix and uterus perfusion. By combining with clinical and biochemical parameters’ changes, imaging data will be analyzed simultaneously to demonstrate the correlation of central integration and target organ response. This program will provide in-depth evidence to illustrate the biological mechanism of acupuncture for primary dysmenorrhea. The finding of this study will shed light on the scientific connotation of the “REN meridian connecting with the uterus and pregnancy” theory, and will further promote the improvement of acupuncture clinical effect and development of TCM theories.