Abstract: Objective: To study the effect of acupuncture on rabbit bladder with urodynamic indexes. Methods: New Zealand male rabbits were divided into control group, model group, treatment group 1 treated by acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23) and treatment group 2 treated by acupuncture at Zhongji (CV 3). The urine dynamic parameters through the urethral catheter were detected in each group in order: fluctuation of pressure at filling phase of urinary bladder and flow rate in urination phase, which were used as quantification indexes of urinary bladder function. The urinary bladder abnormal model was prepared by administration of cholinergic stimulant; Regulatory effects of acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zhongji (CV 3) on the abnormal state of the urinary bladder were respectively observed. Results: 1) In the filling phase of urinary bladder and in the urination phase, the intravesical pressure wave in infilling (IPWI) and intravesical discharge rate (IDR) could be respectively recorded. 2) IPWI and IDR could become abnormality by neostigmine methyl sulfate [stability type IPWI: the control group (n = 20, 80%) vs the model group (n = 15, 14.3%), P < 0.01; IDR and time regression equation: the control group (n = 20, y = 24.3 - 0.878x) vs the model group (n = 15, y = 40.0 - 5.15x), P < 0.01]. 3) Abnormal IPWI's could be normalized respectively by acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zhongji (CV 3) [the stability type IPWI wave: the model group (n = 2, 14.3%) vs the treatment group 1 (n = 3, 30%), P > 0.05; the instability type IPWI wave: the model group (n = 13, 85.7%) in vs the treatment group 2 (n = 6, 60%), P > 0.05]; 4) Abnormal IDR also could be turned to normality by acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23) and Zhongji (CV 3), respectively [IDR and the time regression equation: the model group (n = 15, y = 40.0 - 5.15x) vs the treatment group 1 (n = 10, y = 18.9 - 0.499x), P < 0.01; the model group (n = 15, y = 40.0 - 5.15x) vs the treatment group 2 (n = 10, y = 17.5 - 0.251x), P < 0.01]. Conclusion: 1) Urodynamic indexes can be used for study of mechanism of acupuncture effects; 2) The effect of acupuncture in the bladder filling phase is smaller than that in the urination phase; 3) Acupuncture has a very obvious effect on intravesical discharge rate.

Key words: Urodynamics; Acupuncture; Point BL 23 (Shenshu); Point CV 3 (Zhongji); Voiding dysfunction