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KMID : 1147720080010020083
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Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
2008 Volume.1 No. 2 p.83 ~ p.90
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Catecholamine-storing Cells at Acupuncture Points of Rabbits
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Ogay Vyacheslav
Kim Min-Su
Seok Hyo-Jun
Choi Cheon-Joo
Soh Kwang-Sup
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Abstract
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Recent studies have shown that specific sites of the skin related to the acupoints contain a high concentration of catecholamines, especially noradrenaline (NA). Considering this newly discovered property of the acupoints we assumed that heterogeneous distribution of cutaneous catecholamines could be associated with a specific location of catecholamine-storing cells in acupoint sites. In the present work we used an immunohistochemical method and confocal laser scanning microscopy to examine the presence of catecholamine-storing cells at acupoints of rabbits. Double immunofluorescence staining with antibodies against adrenaline and NA revealed only the cells storing NA in the dermal layer of rabbit skin. NA-storing cells were randomly scattered as single cells as well as existing in small clusters in a globular tissue formation surrounded by blood vessels and capillaries. Microscopic analysis of histological sections also revealed that the distribution of NA-storing cells was closely associated with the location of acupoints. Thus results from our study strongly suggest that acupoint areas of rabbit skin contain catecholamine-storing cells which can release a high level of NA during acupuncture stimulation.
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KEYWORD
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acupuncture point, catecholamines, rabbit, skin
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