Objective To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) stimulation of differently combined acupoints of "Zhongwan"(CV 12)

"Tianshu"(ST 25) and "Shangjuxu"(ST 37

for treatment of enteral disorders) on acetic acid-induced intestinal mucosal lesion in rats so as to select the best combinations of acupoints.Methods A total of 126 SD rats were divided into nine groups: normal control(normal)

model

CV 12

ST 25

ST 37

CV 12+ST 37

ST 25+ ST 37

CV 12 +ST 25 and CV 12 +ST 25 +ST 37.Intestinal mucosal lesion model was established by using enema(8% acetic acid 1 mL).EA was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints for 15 min

once daily for 3 days.General conditions

colonic mucosal damage index(CMDI) and pathological damage integral(PDI) were detected respectively.The colonic mucosal membrane tissue was stained with H.E.stain for observing its morphological changes under light microscope

and the ultrastructural changes were observed using electron transmission microscope.Results Compared with the control group

CMDI was decreased significantly(P<0.05) and PDI of the colonic mucosal membrane increased significantly in the model group(P<0.05).Compared with the model group

CMDI was decreased markedly and PDI increased significantly(P<0.05) in the CV 12

ST 25

ST 37

CV 12+ST 37

ST 25+ST 37

CV 12+ST 25 and CV 12+ST 25+ST 37 groups(P<0.05).Comparison among the 7 EA treatment groups showed that both CMDI and PDI of the CV 12+ST 25+ST 37 group were significantly superior to those of CV 12

ST 25

ST 37

CV 12+ST 37

ST 25+ST 37 and CV 12+ST 25 groups(P<0.05).Under light microscope

the colonic mucosal injury was remarkable

while those of the 7 EA treatment groups were relatively milder.Ultramicrostructural findings showed that the colonic mucosal lesion including shortening or sparseness of the intestinal epithelial villi

swelling of mitochondria with arrangement disorder

breaking or fusion of the cristae

and enlargement of the rough endocytoplasmic reticulum was found in the model group

while the situations were lighter in the 7 EA groups particularly in the CV 12+ST 25+ST 37 group.Conclusion EA of CV 12

ST 25 and ST 37 acupoint alone or combination can relieve acetic acid-induced intestinal mucosal lesion in rats

and the effect of joint application of these 3 acupoints is obviously better

suggesting their clinical applicability in clinical treatment of intestinal di-sorders as a basic formula.