祖国医学对疾病的治疗历来主张“因时制宜”

强调时间因素在治疗疾病中的重要意义

“子午流注”和“灵龟八法”等时间针法更集中体现了针刺治疗与时间的密切关系。近年来

随着现代时间生物学和时间医学的兴起和迅速发展

时间因素对针刺疗效In the present study

rats were synchronized with light from 8:00 to 20:00

then darkness. Water and food were available ad libitum. The basical levels inmedulla oblongata plus pons

hypothalamus

hippocampus midbrain

striatum andcortex

and electroacupuncture influences on them were compared at four diffe-rent times of a day (5:00

11:00

17:00 and 23:00). It was found that: (1) The ba-sical level of LEK in the medulla oblongata plus pons at 11:00 was the highestamong the four times; (2) The LEK content incrased by 34.8% in the hypothala-mus and decreased by 21.4% in the cortex when EA was given at 5:00; TheLEK levels in the hypothalamus and the hippocampus increaed by 65.3% andby 37.0% respectively when EA at 11:00; The LEK level in the hippocampusincreased by 50.1% when EA at 17: 00; The hippocampus decreased by 29.8%when EA at 23:00. The results show that a circadian rhythm was evidente in the LEK levelof the rat medulla oblongata plus pons

also EA at diffeaent hours produced different effects on LEK contents in rat discrete brain regions. This provides experimental evidence for acupuncture treatment selecting hours clinically. Also

the physiological circadian variation and the influence of time factor on acupun-cture effects should be considered in study of acupuncture mechanism.