Specific acupuncture stimulation of Shenshu (BL23) affects sympathetic nervous activity-associated plasma renin concentration changes

doi:10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.02.005

Abstract

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether specific stimulation of Shenshu (BL23) affects sympathetic nervous activity (SNA)-associated plasma renin concentration (PRC).

METHODS: Eight healthy volunteers participated in three pattern conditions in random order: control (Cont), stimulation of Shenshu (BL23), and stimulation of sham point (Sham). All participants were initially in the supine position for > 60 min, and then remained in the standing position during the experimental procedure to increase SNA. An electrocardiogram was used to calculate low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio; blood was collected to analyze PRC.

RESULTS: The LF/HF ratio was significantly increased in the standing position when compared with the supine position (P < 0.01). There was no difference in LF/HF ratio during or after stimulation of Shenshu (BL23) in the standing position when compared with before the stimulation in the supine position; however, the LF/HF ratio was significantly increased in Cont and Sham conditions (P < 0.01). There was no difference in PRC after stimulation of Shenshu (BL23) in the standing position when compared with before the stimulation in the supine position; however, there was a significant increase in PRC in the Cont and Sham conditions (Cont P < 0.05, Sham P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that specific acupuncture stimulation of Shenshu (BL23) in the standing position decreased SNA-associated PRC, which was not observed during acupuncture stimulation of the sham point.

Key words: Acupuncture, Point BL23 (Shenshu), Sympathetic nervous activity, Plasma renin concentration

Kanae Umemoto, Tomoya Hayashi, Kaori Fukushige, Shuichi Hirai, Hayato Terayama, Kou Sakabe, Munekazu Naito. Specific acupuncture stimulation of Shenshu (BL23) affects sympathetic nervous activity-associated plasma renin concentration changes[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022, 42(2): 250-255.

Figures/Tables 5

Figure 1 Experimental procedure All participants took part in three pattern conditions in random order; control (Cont), stimulation of Shenshu (BL 23), and stimulation of sham point (Sham). The three pattern conditions were separated by a washout period of at least 7 d. SP period: the period resting in a supine position; BS period: the period remaining in a standing position before stimulation; S period: the period of stimulation in a standing position.

Figure 2 Stimulation points Shenshu (BL23) (black circle) is located in the lumbar region at the level of the inferior border of the second lumbar vertebral (L2) spinous process and 1.5 B cun, defined as half the width of four fingers at the dorsal crease of the proximal interphalangeal joint of the middle finger, lateral to the posterior median line.1 The sham point (black triangle) is located 4 cm from Shenshu (BL23), 45° outside and downward, in the same L2 dermatome as Shenshu (BL23).3

Figure 3 HR in the Cont, Shenshu (BL23), and Sham conditions A: a sample electrocardiogram (ECG) traces recorded from different groups during the AS period; B: HR during each period. Cont: control; BL23: stimulation of Shenshu (BL23); Sham: stimulation of sham point; HR: heart rate. SP period: the period resting in a supine position; BS period: the period remaining in a standing position before stimulation; S period: the period of stimulation in a standing position; AS period: the period remaining in a standing position after stimulation. aP < 0.01, vs SP; bP < 0.05, vs BS.

Figure 4 LF/HF ratio during each period The low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) ratio in the BS period was significantly increased when compared with that in the SP period in all conditions (P < 0.01). The LF/HF ratio in the S and AS periods was significantly increased when compared with that in the SP period in the Cont and Sham conditions (P < 0.01); however, there was no significant differences in the LF/HF ratio in the S or AS period when compared with that in the SP period in the Shenshu (BL23) condition. SP period: the period resting in a supine position; BS period: the period remaining in a standing position before stimulation; S period: the period of stimulation in a standing position; AS period: the period remaining in a standing position after stimulation. aP < 0.01 vs SP.

Figure 5 PRC during each period The plasma renin concentration (PRC) in the Cont and Sham conditions during the Post-S period was significantly increased when compared with that in the Post-SP period (Cont: P < 0.05; Sham: P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in PRC between the Post-SP and Post-S periods in the BL23 condition. SP period: the period resting in a supine position; BS period: the period remaining in a standing position before stimulation; S period: the period of stimulation in a standing position. aP < 0.05 vs SP; bP < 0.01 vs SP.

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