Mechanical stimulation of the scalp improves the extra-and intracranial blood circulation in humans and mice
- Author:
Tan YAN
1
;
He FANG
;
Zhang CE
;
Zhang JIANI
;
Chen ZIWEI
;
Wang XU
;
Wei PENG
;
Nan YINAN
;
Jin Lei LOUIS
;
Hua QIAN
Author Information
1. School of Life Sciences,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine,Beijing,102488,China
- Keywords:
Scalp mechanical stimulation;
Blood—brain barrier;
Capillary;
Traditional;
Chinese medicine
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
2020;7(4):366-374
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Background: Scalp combing,as an ancient method of health care,has been used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine.Although this method is considered to be beneficial for the blood circu-lation of the head,the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.Methods: Both human participants and mice were used in this study.In participants,the scalp was stimulated by combing continuously for 5 min,and the temperature was measured using infrared thermal imaging before and after stimulation.In mice,the temperature was determined before and at 5,15,and 30 min after a 5-min scalp mechanical stimulation(SMS).Additionally,the vasculature of the mice was labeled with retro-orbital fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran injection,and the capillaries were observed directly under a confocal microscope.Using in vivo CLARITY imaging and the spectrofluoro-metric detection of Evans Blue dye extravasation,the blood—brain barrier permeability was assessed.Results: SMS increased the temperature of the left ear significantly in human(P =.0247)while can slightly increase the temperature of the right ear and the face without significant difference(P >.05).Moreover,SMS can significantly slow the decrease in the temperature of the external auditory canal at 5 min(P =.0153)and in body temperature at 15 min(P =.0295)after SMS whereas no significant difference in body temperature at 30 min(P>.05)compared with control mice.Furthermore,capillaries of the ear with a diameter of less than 8μm were significantly dilated(P=.0006)following SMS and the number of dextran dots was higher at 15 min(P >.05)and 30 min(F = 10.98,P =.037)after SMS intervention compared with control mice.Conclusion: Our study provides strong evidence to support the notion that scalp combing can improve extra-and intracranial blood circulation under healthy conditions.
