Objective To observe the effect of acupoint injection at"Yingxiang"(LI 20)and"Yintang"(GV 29)on nasal allergic reactions and the expression of histamine receptor H 1 and H 4 in nasal mucosa of allergic rhinitis(AR)rats

so as to reveal its mechanism underlying improvement of AR.Methods SD rats were randomized into normal

model

non-acupoint injection and acupoint injection groups(n=8 in each).The AR model was established by intraperitoneal(i.p.)injection of mixture of ovalbumin

aluminium hydroxide gel and normal saline(once every other day

for 7 times)

and nasal drip of ovalbumin(on the following day of i.p.for 7 days).The mixture solution of lidocaine

dexamethasone(DXM)and transfer factor(0.1 mL/acupoint or non-acupoint)was injected into bilateral LI 20 and GV 29 in the acupoint injection group

or into the non-acupoints(about 5 cm below the armpit on both sides

and the middle point between the left"Houhai"[GV 1]and"Huantiao"[GB 30])

on the 1 st

5 th

9 th

and 13 th day after modeling.Symptoms of sneezing

nasal discharge

nose-rubbing

etc.were scored after the treatment.The expression levels of H1 R and H4 R proteins and genes in the nasal mucosa tissue were determined using immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR

respectively.Results Compared with the normal group

the symptom score and the expression levels of H1 R

H4 R proteins and genes in nasal mucosa were significantly increased in the model group(P<0.05).After acupoint injection for 4 times

the symptom score and the expression levels of H1 R

H4 R proteins and mRNAs were significantly down-regulated in the acupoint injection group relevant to the model group(P<0.05).There were no significant differences between the non-acupoint and the model groups in the abovementioned indexes(P>0.05)

suggesting a specificity of the effect of acupoint injection.Conclusion Acupoint injection can relieve the allergic symptoms of AR rats

which may be related to its effects in downregulating the over expression of H1 R and H4 R proteins and genes in the nasal mucosa.