Analysis of Nitric Oxide During Meridian Practices

经络练习过程中一氧化氮的分析

• 批准号: 6838335
• 负责人: SHENG-XING MA
• 金额: $ 20.06万
• 依托单位: LUNDQUIST INSTITUTE FOR BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION AT HARBOR-UCLA MEDICAL CENTER
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-09-29 至 2008-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/6838335
• 关键词: acupuncture /acupressure; alternative medicine; biosynthesis; clinical research; electrical conductance; electrical impedance; electrodes; electrostimulus; heat stimulus; human subject; inhibitor /antagonist; meditation; nitric oxide

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The meridian system is the central theory and guiding principle for therapies related to mind-body interactions such as acupuncture, Qi Gong and meditation. Investigators have demonstrated in both humans and animals that acupoints/meridians possess characteristics of low electric resistance. We have found that nitric oxide (NO) contents and neuronal NO synthase expressions are consistently increased in three meridian skin regions in rats. Our recent studies reveal that NO contents are increased over PC 4 to 7 containing 4 acupoints and tended to increase in BL 56 to 57 along the region with two acupoints compared to nonmeridian control in humans. Consistent with the postulated role of nonenzymatic NO generation, enhanced NO levels in the acupoints/meridians are reduced by using sodium hypochlorite to reduce bacteria on skin surface. Furthermore, preliminary data show that NO contents are increased over PC acupoints and meridian during meditation practice. I hypothesize that 1) Nonenzymatic NO production and neuronal NO synthesis contribute to enhanced NO generation in acupoint/meridians; and 2) Meridian practices induce NO generation which mediates chemical-electrical activity for the biophysical characteristics of acupoints/meridians. In view of the critical importance and unexplored territory of the meridian system, our major aims are: 1) Define whether local NO levels (NOx- concentrations) are selectively increased in the acupoints and/or in the meridian regions; 2) Determine if nonenzymatic NO generation and/or neuronal NO synthesis contribute to enhanced NO levels in acupoints/meridians; 3) Identify if electrical and temperature stimulation induces NO production in acupoints/meridians paralleled to low electrical resistance; 4) Examine whether acupuncture induces NO production/release along dual directions of meridian pathways; and 5) Investigate whether Qi Gong and/or meditation practices predominantly increase NO generation in the acupoints and meridians. Quantification of NO metabolites collected from the skin surface of acupoints and meridian lines with a special device will be integrated with physiological/pharmacological manipulations during meridian practices to test the hypotheses in humans. The results should advance our understanding of the roles of endogenous NO generation/release in responses to acupuncture, Qi Gong and meditation practices m the acupoints/meridians, and yield new insights regarding the effects of non-enzymatic NO generation and neuronal NO synthesis on chemical-electrical activity of the low skin resistance function of meridians.

描述（由申请人提供）：经络系统是针灸、气功和冥想等身心相互作用相关疗法的中心理论和指导原则。研究人员已经在人类和动物身上证明了穴位/经络具有低电阻的特性。我们发现大鼠三个经络皮肤区域的一氧化氮（NO）含量和神经元NO合酶表达持续增加。我们最近的研究表明，与人体非经络对照相比，NO 含量在含有 4 个穴位的 PC 4 至 7 区域中增加，并且在 BL 56 至 57 中沿含有 2 个穴位的区域中 NO 含量呈增加趋势。与非酶促一氧化氮生成的假设作用一致，通过使用次氯酸钠减少皮肤表面的细菌，可以降低穴位/经络中增加的一氧化氮水平。此外，初步数据表明，在冥想练习过程中，PC穴位和经络的NO含量有​​所增加。我假设 1) 非酶促 NO 产生和神经元 NO 合成有助于增强穴位/经络中 NO 的产生； 2) 经络练习会诱导一氧化氮的产生，从而介导穴位/经络生物物理特征的化学电活动。 鉴于经络系统的重要性和尚未探索的领域，我们的主要目标是：1）确定穴位和/或经络区域的局部NO水平（NOx浓度）是否选择性增加； 2) 确定非酶促 NO 生成和/或神经元 NO 合成是否有助于提高穴位/经络中 NO 水平； 3) 确定电刺激和温度刺激是否会诱导穴位/经络中 NO 的产生，并与低电阻平行； 4) 考察针刺是否诱导NO沿经络双向产生/释放； 5) 研究气功和/或冥想练习是否主要增加穴位和经络中一氧化氮的生成。使用特殊装置对从皮肤表面的穴位和经络线收集的一氧化氮代谢物进行定量，将与经络实践中的生理/药理学操作相结合，以在人体中检验这一假设。这些结果将促进我们对针灸、气功和穴位/经络冥想练习中内源性 NO 生成/释放的作用的理解，并就非酶促 NO 生成和神经元 NO 合成对化学物质的影响产生新的见解。 -经络皮肤电阻功能低下的电活动。