Seventy newly diagnosed diabetic patients were enrolled in the study, including 37patients aged over 60 (elderly-onset diabetes, EOD group) and 33 patients under 60 (adult-onset diabetes,AOD group) ; 30 elderly healthy subjects served as controls. Serum melatonin levels were determined with ELISA and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that serum melatonin levels were significantly lower in EOD group than those in control group [ (6. 6 ± 1.3 )ng/L vs. (7.7 ± 1.4) ng/L, P ＜0. 01 ], the expression of iNOS mRNA was significantly higher than that in AOD group [ (36 ± 3 )% vs. (30 ± 4)%, P ＜ 0. 01 ]; and i NOS mRNA was not detected in control group.Logistic regression analysis indicated that decreased serum melatonin levels and up-regulated iNOS mRNA might be independent risk factors for diabetes mellitus in the elderly.

Ten adult male rats of 250～300 g were used. These animals were divided into the control and experimental groups of 6 and 4 rats respectively. The changes of the ultrastructure of adrenocortical cells under acupuncture analgesia were observed with electron microscopy.1. The volumes of cells, nuclei and nucleoli in zona fasciculata were increased. The mitochondria was hypertrophic; its cristae transformed from the tubules into the vesicles in the external zone fasciculate. The giant mitochondria which contained paracrystallin and lipid osmiophilic substance was observed.2. The surface volume of SER membrane was increased. The smooth membrane vesicles and tubules with filaments and granules were dilated. The SER membrane vesicles were arranged around the mitochondria or lipid droplets.3. The lipid droplets with low density were dilated and accumulated in the middle part of cytoplasm. These findings might be correlated with enhancement of synthesis and utilization of cholesterol ester.4. The free ribosomes and polysomes which scattered in cytoplasm were increased. The Golgi apparatus were well developed. The lysosomes of variable sizes and densities (primary or secondary lysosomes) were abundent.5. The number and diameter of the microvilli were increased. The spaces between the adjacent cells of zona fasciculata were dilated and the intermedian junctions and gap junctions had disappeared. The subsinus space was dilated and contained numerous longer microvilli. The changes discribed above suggested that the acupuncture analgesia may enhance activity of the adrenocortical cells, both synthesis and discharge of corticoid hormone.

Effective analgesia was induced by electro-acupuncture stimulating the "Zusanli"(足三里) point in the rats. The animal were sacrificed and as soon as possible and the median eminence were taken out from the brian. The specimens were fixed in glutaraldehyde, then were prepared for electron microscope observation.Twelve male adult rats were divided into control and experimental groups. There were many terminal enlargements in the fibrous zone of rat's median eminence. Different types of vesicles were found in the terminal buttons, they were round clear and flattened clear vesicles, and large or small vesicles with a dense core. There were also mixed forms, and irregular vesicles in the same button. Synapses may be axo-dendrits, axo-axon or axe-somatic synaptic types.The neurous in the fibrious zone could be classified into "light" and "dark" cells. The light cells might be the neurosecretory neurons. The neuroglia cells were oligodendrocytes and astrocytes.In acupuncture analgesia experimental group the terminal enlargment contained less number of round clear vesicles than that of the control group, and sometime they were empty. This may indicate the discharge of acetylcholine, to increase the secretion of the neurosecretory substance and enkephalin. But the flattened clear vesicles had no change in the terminal button. The neurons and neroglia also exhibited some morphological changes which may indicate the cells were in active functional state.