The effects of acupuncture on endocrine system, autonomic nervous system and cerebral function

针灸治疗慢性疼痛已被广泛应用于临床实践。然而，针灸的作用机制尚不清楚。由于慢性疼痛与自主神经活动的改变有关，我们评估了针刺对自主神经活动的影响。（方法）10名健康成年志愿者参加实验。采用心电图仪和眼压计测量心率（HR）和血压（BP）。休息30分钟后记录对照值。然后针刺右臂合谷、手三里穴30分钟。针刺前后连续记录心率和血压。采用功率谱分析方法对收缩压低频功率（SBP-LF）和心率变异性高频功率（HR-HF）进行分析。此外，我们还研究了针刺对情绪应激的良好标志物嗜铬粒蛋白A（CgA）唾液分泌的影响。作为假刺激，我们评估刺激非穴位时对各变量的影响。结果针刺后SBP-LF降低，HR-HF升高。刺激穴位对CgA无影响，刺激假穴可使CgA升高。（讨论和结论）HR和SBP降低是由于交感神经活动受到抑制。针刺合谷穴、手三里穴可能影响植物神经系统。

(Aims)Acupuncture has been widely Used in clinical practice for the management of chronic pain. However, the mechanism of acupuncture is not clear. Because chronic pain is associated with alteration of autonomic nervous activity, we evaluated the effects of acupuncture on autonomic nervous activity.(Methods)Ten healthy adult volunteers were enrolled in the study. Heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) were measured using electrocardiograph and tonometry. Control values were recorded after a 30-minute rest. Then acupuncture was applied at Hegu (L14) and Shousanli (LI10) on the right arm for 30 minutes. HR and BP were recorded continuously during and after the acupuncture. We analyzed the low frequency power of systolic blood pressure (SBP-LF) and the high frequency power of HR variability (HR-HF) by power spectral analysis. Moreover, we examined the effect of acupuncture on salivary secretion of chromogranin A(CgA) that was the good marker of emotional stress. As sham Stimulation, we evaluated the influence to each variable when stimulating non-acupuncture points.(Results)After the acupuncture, SBP-LF is reduced and HR-HF increased. These responses were associated the reduction of SBP and HR. CgA was not affected by the stimulation to acupuncture points, however increased by the stimulation of sham point.(Discussion and conclusion)Reduction in HR and SBP resulted from suppressed sympathetic nervous activity. Acupuncture at Hegu point and Shousanli point may affect the autonomic nervous system.