The effects of electroacupuncture(EA) on gastrointestinal motility were investigated in 6 horses.
Three acupuncture points ; Guan Yuan Shu(BL-26), Wei Shu(BL-21) and Da Chang Shu(BL-25) were stimulated for 20 minutes by EA at separate occasions under varying condition ; 2V-1Hz, 2V-5Hz, 2V-30Hz, 4V-1Hz, 4V-5Hz and 4V-30Hz.
Myoelectric activity of stomach and cecum was monitored to investigate the gastrointestinal motility. Electromyogram(EMG) recordings were carried out before, 0, 20 minutes after and 40 minutes after the EA stimulation.
EMG bipolar electrode was surgically implanted in seromuscular layer of greater curvature in the stomach and between medial band and ventral band in the cecum. The EA stimulation and monitoring were not commenced until 15 days after electrode implantation.
The EA stimulation of Wei Shu influenced on stomach motility and that of Da Chang Shu on, cecum motility. However, the EA stimulation of Guan Yuan Shu influenced on both the stomach and the cecum motility.
The myoelectrical spike burst amplitude of the stomach and the cecum was significantly(p$lt;0.05) increased by 2V-1Hz stimulation, but the myoelectrical spike burst frequence of the stomach and the cecum was significantly decreased by 2V-30Hz or 4V-30Hz stimulation. The myoelectrical spike burst duration of the stomach and the cecum was significantly lengthened by 4V-30Hz and 2V or 4V-30Hz stimulation, respectively.
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