Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of acupoint injection of mixture solution of lidocaine

dexamethasone(DX)and transfer factor on symptoms and serum histamine contents in allergic rhinitis(AR)rats

so as to differentiate the role of acupoint stimulation or drug factor influencing the therapeutic effect.Methods SD rats were randomized into normal(n=8)

model

non-acupoint-drug injection

acupoint-drug injection and acupoint-saline injection groups(n=11in each group).The AR model was established by intraperitoneal injection of suspension of ovalbumin(0.3mg)and aluminum hydroxide(30mg)

1mL

once every other day for 7days

followed by nose-dripping of 5% ovalbumin(50μL)for other 7days.The AR scores for rhinocnesmus severity(1-2points)

sneezing times(1-3points)and nasal discharge quantity(1-3points)were assessed by cumulative quantification scoring method."Yintang"(EX-HN 3)and bilateral"Yingxiang"(LI 20)were used for acupoint injection of mixture solution of 1% Lidocaine

DX and transfer factor(1∶1∶1

0.1mL/acupoint)

once every other day for 7days.The non-acupoints were located at the bilateral sub-costal regions and the mid-point between the left"Houhai"(GV 1)and"Huantiao"(GB 30).The same dose of saline was injected into the aforementioned acupoints for control.Serum histamine content was detected by using ELISA

and the nasal mucosal pathological changes were also observed after H.E.stain.Results After the treatment

AR modeling induced increase of symptom scores and serum histamine contents were significantly decreased in both acupoint-saline injection and acupoint-drug injection groups(P<0.01)but not in the non-acupoint-drug injection group(P>0.05)

and the effects of acupoint-drug injection were markedly superior to those of non-acupoint-drug injection group(P<0.01).Conclusion Acupoint injection of mixture solution of Lidocaine

DX and transfer factor is effective in relieving the allergic symptoms and reducing the nasal mucosa inflammation in AR rats

which may be related to its action in suppressing histamine releasing

mainly by acupoint stimulation.It suggests that the therapeutic effect mainly derives from acupoint-injection stimulation

then the injected drugs.