大量的临床实践表明

针灸治疗消化系统病症有良好的疗效

但其作用机制则迄今尚未阐明。最近我们的工作证明了针刺对狗的胃酸分泌有明显的调整作用

但针刺对胃运动功能的作用则了解甚少。从针灸临床实践认识到

针刺“人中”穴具有It is well known that acupuncpure is effective in human for treatment of gut motility disorders

its mechanism remains unknown.The purpose of this study was to observe the regulatory function of gastric motility by acupuncture and its relation to peripheral 5-hydroxytryptamine(5 HT). Twenty-five dogs anesthetized with chloralose were prepared with strain gauge in the antrum to record contractile activity.We have observed the effect of acupuncture“Renzhong”on antral motility

changes 5-HT content in whole blood and fluorohistochemical changes of 5-HT in the enterochromaffin cells(EC cell)of antral mucosa. The results suggest that after acupuncture on the“Renzhong”point marke- dly inhibited gastric antral motor activity.During the inhibition of antral contraction caused by acupuncture“Renzhong”5-HT in whole blood decreases significantly.The amount of fluorescent EC cell and the fluoresent intensity of 5-HT in the EC cells were both markedly increased compared with that of 5-HT in the EC cells of control dogs.This result may be related to the in- creased storage and decreased release of 5-HT in EC cell during the acupuncture.Inhibition of gastric contraction by acupuncture seems that 5-HT are involved.