Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Stress is involved in the pathogenesis of functional dyspepsia (FD) and an impaired gastric phase III of interdigestive contractions has been shown in subset of patients who have FD.
Objective:
This study attempted to determine whetherelectro-acupuncture (EA) has a beneficial effect on an impaired gastric phase III associated with stress.
Methods:
Strain gauze force transducers were chronically implanted on the gastric body, antrum, duodenum, and proximal jejunum in dogs. Three electrodes for electrocardiography (ECG) were implanted at the back and shoulders of the animals. The dogs were allowed 2 weeks to recover from the surgery. Twenty minutes after finishing gastric phase III, the dogs were forced to hear intensely loud music through earpieces for 90 minutes, to create acoustic stress (AS).
Main Outcome Measures:
After a 16-hour fast, gastrointestinal contractions and ECG were recorded in while the dogs were in a conscious state. High frequency (HF; 0.15–0.4 Hz) and low frequency (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) bands of the heart rate variability (HRV) power spectrum of ECG were used as markers of vagal and sympathetic activity, respectively.
Results:
The occurrence of gastric phase III, but not intestinal phase III, was significantly inhibited during AS loading. Increased LF and reduced HF were observed in response to AS, suggesting increased sympathetic and reduced parasympathetic activity. EA at ST 36, but not at BL 21, significantly restored the occurrence of gastric phase III (P<0.01). EA at ST 36 increased HF and reduced LF during AS loading (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
EA at ST 36 may increase parasympathetic activity, resulting in the restoration of impaired gastric phase III contractions in stressful conditions.
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