Objective To observe the nerve discharge changes responding to stimulation of "Zusanli"(ST 36) by manual acupuncture(MA) and electroacupuncture(EA)

so as to reveal the changing regularity of peripheral nerve response.Methods Thirty male SD rats were used in the present study.After anesthetizing with urethane(75 mg/kg) and dissecting a branch of the sciatic nerve innervating ST36 region in the right hind-limb

the ipsilateral ST36 was stimulated with MA(by lifting and thrusting and rotating the acupuncture needle

1 manipulation/s) and EA(5 V

10 V

15 V

and 3 Hz).Discharges of the nerve tract was recorded for 1 min before

during and after MA or EA stimulation respectively

and analyzed in spike counts.Results After lifting

thrusting and rotating the needle

the nerve discharge increased to(74.20±18.92) spikes/s from(42.20±1.98) spikes/s of pre-MA(P<0.05)

then turned to(41.40±4.85) spikes/s immediately after cease of MA.After manual lifting and thrusting the needle

the nerve discharge increased to(60.60±10.79) spikes/s from(42.00±3.89) spikes/s before MA(P<0.05)

and returned to(45.00±18.10) spikes/s immediately after cease of MA.No changes were found after manually rotating the needle(P>0.05).EA at ST36 by increasing the intensity to 5 V began to elicit similar changes of nerve discharges

and increased significantly in a voltage-dependent manner within 5-15 V.EA at the strength of 15 V could produce a marked increase of nerve discharge

being increased to(64.20±9.36) spikes/s from(42.60±3.87) spikes/s before EA(P<0.05)

and then

returned to(48.00±7.55) spikes/s immediately after cease of EA.Conclusion MA of lifting and thrusting

and particularly that of rotating combined with lifting and thrusting at ST36 can significantly potentiate the discharge activity of the sciatic nerve tract

with the response of the latter being more apparent.EA of ST36 at the strength of 10-15 V has a similar effect.It suggests that both mechanical and EA stimulation of ST36 at a certain intensity can produce a similar change of discharges of the afferent nerve innervating ST36 in the rat.