Objective To observe the influence of acupuncture on the motor ability of training-induced fatigue mice so as to explore its mechanism underlying acupuncture-induced improvement of physical training fatigue.Methods Sixty Kunming mice were divided into normal control

training model and acupuncture groups

with 20 mice in each.The training-fatigue model was established by forcing the mouse to swim in a water tank for 30 min/d in the 1st week

60 min/d in the 2nd week

90 min/d in the 3rd week and 120 min/d in the 4th and 5th weeks."Guanyuan"(CV 4)

and bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) and "Shenshu"(BL 23) were punctured with filiform needles

and with the needle twirled for about 30 s and retained for 5 min.The treatment was conducted once daily for 2 weeks.The duration of exhaustion training was recorded.Serum lactic acid(LA)

lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and creatine kinase(CK) contents were detected by LA oxidase method

immuno-suppressive assay and enzyme-linked immunoassay

respectively.Results Compared with the training-fatigue(model) group

the duration of the exhausted swimming of the acupuncture group was obviously longer(P<0.05).In comparison with the control group

serum LA

LDH and CK contents were increased considerably in the model and acupuncture groups(P<0.05

P<0.01)

while compared with the model group

serum LDH level of acupuncture group was increased significantly(P<0.05)

and serum CK level of acupuncture group decreased obviously(P<0.05).No significant difference was found between the model and acupuncture groups in serum LA content(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can effectively improve the motor ability of the training-fatigue mice

which may be closely relevant to its effects in upregulating LDH activity and reducing serum CK.