Morphological Analysis of Mouse Acupuncture Points
10.3777/jjsam.31.310
- VernacularTitle:経穴の実在の有無証明のための実験的, 形態学的研究
- Author:
Nakazo Watari
;
Yasuzo Kurono
;
Tatsuyo Ishigami
;
Yoshie Hiramatsu
;
Shigeru Hori
;
Hironori Nakamura
;
Yoshio Mabuchi
;
Yasuaki Hotta
;
Katsunori Ishigure
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Journal of the Japan Society of Acupuncture and Moxibustion
1982;31(4):310-314
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
-
Abstract:
The acupuncture points are quite important in Oriental medicine. They have been known for about 3, 000 years. However, the points have not been ascertained morphologically to date.
In this experiment, the acupuncture points such as Hoku (LI-4), Taichong (LV-3) and one of the auricular points, which were at first obtained morphologically using a Rydoraku point-searching apparatus (12V, DC), and then needled perpendicularly with acupuncture needle No. 30, staining the tip of the needle with carbon black ink to mark the point localizations.
Small pieces of skin were marked with ink cuts and fixed with 10% neutralized formalin, and then serial paraffin sections were made for light microscopical observations.
The acupuncture points seemed to be the places at which the electric resistance was usually lower than at other non-acupuncture points.
Non-acupuncture points with high electric resistance were also taken for the control (Fig. 7).
From the light microscopical observations of the acupuncture points, a special complex was found (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). It was composed of a nerve fiber running horizontal to the surface of the skin, some blood and lymph vessels and a small amount of collagenous fibers.
These elements seemed to be a plexus forming a complex, and the complex was usually located within the subcutaneous tissue.
On the other hand, such complex had not been observed at the non-acupuncture points so far (Fig. 7).
In summary, it is postulated that the acupuncture points seem to be in some way related to the nervous elements, the vascular system and collagenous fibers.
Fig. 1. A schematic illustration of acupuncture points, postulated by Niboyet (1979).
Fig. 2. Histological view of the acupuncture point of Hoku (LI-4) in the left foreleg of the mouse.
X70
Fig. 3. At the point of Hoku (LI-4) in the right foreleg of the mouse, one can also see a complex of nervous elements (N) and the vascular system (V). X70
Fig. 4 This light micrograph also shows a complex of nervous elements (N) and vascular system (V) in Taichong (LV-3) of the left hind leg of the mouse. X150
Fig. 5. There is also observed a complex of the nervous elements (N) and vascular system (V) in Taichong (LV-3) of the right hind leg of the mouse. X150
Fig. 6. A complex of the nervous elements (N) and vascular system (V) is also observed in an acupuncture point of the mouse auricle. X150
Fig. 7. A complex of the nervous elements and vascular system is not observed in the non-acupuncture point area of the mouse foreleg. X70
