Objective: To observe the influence of sectioning fat-strip along the Stomach Meridian on acupuncture analgesia.Methods: Sixteen SD rats were randomized into control group(n=6) and treatment group(n=10).After anesthesia with 3% pentobarbital((40 mg/kg))

a 6 mm long fat strip [6-(8 mm) proximal to "Zusanli"(ST 36)] along the Stomach Meridian of each rat in treatment group was excised

while for rats of control group

a same length of muscle strip beside the fat strip was removed.In treatment group

ST-36 was punctured with the acupuncture needle manipulated with uniform reinforcing-reducing method for(15 min).Pain threshold(tail flick latency responding to warm water stimulation) was detected before acupuncture

(0 min)

(10 min)

(20 min)

(30 min) and(60 min) after acupuncture.Results: In control group

the pain threshold values between pre-and post-acupuncture before and after operation on the operation side

and between pre-and post-acupuncture on the non-operation side had no significant differences(P>0.05).There was a significant difference between control group and treatment group in the pain threshold on the operation side after acupuncture(P<0.001).In treatment group

the pain threshold values between pre-and post-acupuncture on the operation side had no significant difference(P>0.05);while those between pre-and post-acupuncture before operation

and between pre-and post-acupuncture on the non-operation side

and between operation side and non-operation side had significant differences(P<0.001)

suggesting that after removal of the fat-strip along the Stomach Meridian

acupuncture induced increase of the pain threshold was abolished.Conclusion: The fat-strip structure along the Stomach Meridian is closely related to acupuncture of "Zusanli"(ST 36) induced analgesia.