OBJECTIVETo probe into the best acupoint-prescription for the simple acupoint catgut embedding therapy in treatment of bronchial asthma.

METHODSForty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the simple acupoint catgut embedding at Feishu (BL 13), Danzhong (CV 17) and Shenshu (BL 23) group (group A), the simple acupoint catgut embedding at Shenshu (BL 23) group (group B), the simple acupoint catgut embedding at Feishu (BL 13) and Danzhong (CV 17) group (group C), Dexamethasone group (group D), model group (group E), and control group (group F), 8 rats in each group. The asthmatic models were established by Ovalbumin (OVA) except group F. Rats in group A, B and C were treated with catgut embedding at the corresponding acupoints from the first experimental day. In group E and D, Dexamethasone and sterile were intraperitoneal injected respectively from the 15th experimental day, once a day for 2 weeks consistantly. No interventions were added on group F. For the six groups, the symptoms of asthmatic attack were observed and the pathologic changes of lung tissue were examined.

RESULTS(1) The times of sneeze and rhinocnesmus scratching nose in group E were increased significantly compared with those in group F (both P < 0.01), but there was no significant difference between group D and F (both P > 0.05). As compared with that in group E, except the times of sneeze in group C, the times mentioned above were decreased significantly in all the treatment groups (all P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between group A and D (both P > 0.05), but the times mentioned above were increased significantly in group B and C as compared with that in group A (all P < 0.01). (2) The symptoms of asthmatic attack and the pathologic changes of airway tissue were all alleviated in group A, B and C, but a better amelioration was observed in group A, with no mucus epistom in the bronchial lumen and few infiltrations of inflammatory cells around the bronchi.

CONCLUSIONThe improvement of the simple acupoint catgut embedding at "Feishu" (BL 13), "Danzhong" (CV 17)and "Shenshu" (BL 23) on the airway inflammation in asthmatic rats is better than that of catgut embedding at "Feishu" (BL 13) and "Danzhong" (CV 17) or at "Shenshu" (BL 23) only.