Objective: To investigate the regulatory effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on gastrointestinal motility and its underlying neurochemical mechanism.Methods: A total of 64 Wistar rats were randomly divided into control

model

medication(Domperidone

31.5 mL/kg/d

intragastric perfusion

7 days altogether) and EA groups

with 16 cases in each group.Gastrointestinal motility disorder model was established by pinching the rat's tail repeatedly with a forceps.EA(1-5 V

4-16 Hz

dense-sparse waves) was applied to bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) for 50 min

once daily

one week altogether.The interdigestive migrating motor complex(MMC) waves delivered by using strain gauge electrodes fixed to the subserous layer of gastric antrum and duodenal wall were recorded.Acetylcholinesterase(AChE) and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) activity in gastroduodenal myenteric plexus was assayed by using ferric cupric cyanide direct coloration method and NADPH-diaphorase method respectively.Results: ① MMC: Compared with control group

the cycle

duration of phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ of MMC of the stomach-duodenum in model group prolonged remarkably(P<0.01)

while the duration

frequency

amplitude and the incidence of phase Ⅲ

and the coordinated contraction rate of the gastric antrum-duodenum in model group all decreased significantly(P<0.01);in comparison with model group

the cycle

duration of phase Ⅰand Ⅱ of MMC of both stomach and duodenum in medication and EA groups shortened significantly(P<0.05

0.01)

while the duration

frequency

amplitude and incidence of phase Ⅲ as well as the coordinated contraction of the stomach-duodenum in medication and EA groups increased significantly(P<0.01);and the effects of EA were significantly superior to those of medication in the aforementioned indexes(P<0.05

0.01).② AChE: Compared with control group

the area density(AD) and optical density(OD) values of myenteric plexus in model group decreased significantly(P