Objective: To observe the specific effect of acupuncture of acupoints of Small Intestine Meridian on the microstructure and expression of heat-shock protein (HSP 70) in the inner ear for analyzing the correlation between the Small Intestine Meridian and the ear. Methods: 60 Guinea-pigs were evenly randomized into control

model

“Tinggong”(SI 19)

“Jianzhen” (SI 9) and “Houxi” (SI 3) groups. Apart from the control group

intramuscular injection of gentamycin (80 mg/kg/day

continuously for 20 days) was given to the animals of the other four groups to establish oto-intoxication model. Meanwhile

“Tinggong”(SI 19)

“Jianzhen”(SI 9) and “Houxi”(SI 3) were punctured respectively and stimulated with even method

once (30 min) daily

and continuously for 20 days. At the end of experiments

the guinea-pig’s cochlear tissue was collected

fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde

sliced and stained by succino-dehydrogenase. The number of cochlear hair cells was calculated under light microscope

HSP 70 was assayed with immunohistochemical method and the microstructure of cochlear hair cells were observed under transmission electron microscope. Results:The deficit cochlear cells in model

“Jianzhen” and“Houxi”groups were considerably more than those of control group (2339.8±622.4

1568.8±447.2 and 1679.4±423.5 vs 200.1±73.5

P<0.05～0.01)

whereas

those of “Tinggong” group (829.6±190.7) were significantly fewer than those of model group (P<0.05)

showing a protection effect of acupuncture on cochlear cells. The microstructural injury (arrangement disorder

mitochondrial swelling

cellular membrane and nucleus membrane shrinkage

core vacuole

etc.) of the cochlear hair cell in “Tinggong” group was obviously lighter than that of model group

showing a protection effect of acupuncture. The grey value of cochlear hair cells of “Tinggong” group was significantly higher than those of the rest 4 groups (P<0.01)

suggesting that acupuncture of “Tinggong” could distinctly upregulate the expression of HSP 70 in the inner ear tissue. No significant changes were found in the deficit cell number

HSP 70 expression and cellular microstructure in “Jianzhen” and “Houxi” groups

indicating that the effect of acupuncture of “Tinggong” possessed a specific effect on Gentamycin induced oto-intoxication in Guinea-pigs. Conclusion: Not all the acupoints of the Small Intestine Meridian have a remarkable interrelationship with the ear

and only the local acupoint near the ear has the specific effect

suggesting that “where is an acupoint

where is the indication”.