BACKGROUND: Some researches indicated that the acupuncture treatment, especially at Sanjiao meridian might be effective for otopathy. However, the mechanism is not clear yet.OBJECTIVE: To observe the hearing improvement of the cavies induced by gentamicin after the animals received the acupuncture at Sanjiao meridian acupoints: Yifeng (SJ 17), Ermen (SJ 21) and Zhongzhu (SJ 3).DESIGN: Complete randomization.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences.MATERIALS: Sixty healthy white male cavies of 3-4 months old, common grade, 250-300 g weight and normal auricle reflex were selected and randomly arranged into 5 groups: normal group, model group, acupuncture groups of Yifeng (SJ 17), Ermen (SJ 21) and Zhongzhu (SJ 3), with 12 ones in each.METHODS: The experiment was conducted at the Laboratory of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine from January to July in 2001. ①The normal cavies were bred at normal conditions, while other cavies were injected intramuscularly with 80 mg/kg gentamicin every day, continuously for 20 days. At the same time of gentamicin injection, Yifeng (SJ 17), Ermen (SJ 21) and Zhongzhu (SJ 3) were selected for acupuncture treatment in the corresponding groups. The fixed cavies were pricked subcutaneously with 0.35 mm×25 mm stainless steel acupuncture needles for 10 mm straight depth. The needles were twisted with mild reinforcing-reducing method once in half a minute, repeated every 10 minutes, and remained for 30 minutes one day for 20 days.②Before and after the intervention, auditory brain-stem response (ABR) was detected with 7S11A evoked potential apparatus, in which the sound source was input by earphone for measuring the threshold value of ABR in cavies. ③The difference of measurement data were compared with t test between groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of acupuncture treatment at Yifeng (SJ 17), Ermen (SJ 21) and Zhongzhu (SJ 3) on the ABR threshold in cavies injured by gentamicin.RESULTS: Totally 60 cavies were involved in the result analysis. There was insignificant difference in the ABR threshold of each group before the intervention (P ＞ 0.05); After the intervention, the ABR threshold was obviously lower in normal group than in other 4 groups (P ＜ 0.01), and also obviously lower in 3 acupuncture groups than in model group (P＜ 0.01),and especially in Yifeng group than in model group.CONCLUSION: The acupuncture treatment at Ermen (SJ 21), Zhongzhu (SJ 3), and especially at Yifeng (SJ 17) acupoints can relieve the hearing impairment in the cavies due to drug toxicity.

BACKGROUND: At present, there is no ideal way to treat auditory injury, and acupuncture would become an effective method to prevent and cure drug auditory injury.OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupuncture at Yifeng, Ermen and Zhongzhu acupoints on improving histopathologic form of basilar membrane of guinea pig with drug poisoning auditory injury.DESIGN: Completely randomized design on the basis of experiment al animals.SETTING: Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences.MATERIALS: A total of 45 white male guinea pigs with normal Preyer's reflex were selected in this study. Guinea pigs were 3-4 months old, of general grade and weighted from 250 g to 300 g. All guinea pigs were randomly divided into 5 groups: normal group, model group, Yifeng group, Ermen group and Zhongzhu group with 9 in each group.METHODS: The experiment was completed at the Laboratory of College of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Affiliated to Beijing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from April to July 2002. ① Normal group: Guinea pigs were fed with normal feed. Other four groups: Guinea pigs were injected into muscle with 80 mg/kg gentamycin for 20 days, and guinea pigs in Yifeng group, Ermen group and Zhongzhu group were acupunctured at corresponding acupoints at the same time. Before acupuncture, guinea pigs were fixed and rapidly acupunctured into subcutaneous tissue with stainless steel needle sized 0.35 mm × 25 mm. The needle was inserted about 10 mm. According to uniform reinforcing-reducing method, the needle was thrusted once every 10 minutes with each for 30 seconds and retained for 30 minutes. The course was 20 days. ② Basilar membrane of guinea pigs was established. Amount of hair cell was calculated under optic microscope (×200) to record deletion amount of hair cell and observe activity of succinic dehydrogenase; meanwhile, ultrastructure of hair cells was observed with transmission electron microscope (×5 000). Measurement data were compared with t test among groups.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Activities of succinic dehydrogenase of hair cell in stretched preparation and changes of ultrastructure of hair cell in cochlea of guinea pigs.RESULTS: All 45 guinea pigs were revolved in the final analysis. ① Comparing activities of succinic dehydrogenase: Activity in normal group was great, and structures of inter and outer hair cells were normal. Activity in mode group was reduced gradually till disappeared. Outer hair cell at base was damaged severely, and there was significant difference from that in normal group (P ＜ 0.01). Activity of succinic dehydrogenase in Yifeng group was changed a little as compared with that in normal group, and difference was not obviously (P ＞ 0.05). Activity of succinic dehydrogenase in Ermen group was decreased, and hair cell showed a little swelling and deletion. Activity of succinic dehydrogenase in Zhongzhu group was decreased remarkably, and outer hair cell at base was damaged severely.There was significant difference between Ermen group and Zhongzhu group as compared with that in normal group (P ＜ 0.01). ② Deletion amount of outer hair cells in basilar membrane of guinea pigs: Amounts in Yifeng group, Ermen group and normal group were less than those in model group (P ＜ 0.05-0.01), but those in Zhongzhu group were similar to those in model group. ③ Ultrastructure: Structure of hair cell of cochlea was normal in normal group, pathological changes were observed on hair cells in model group, and pathological changes in acupuncture groups were milder than those in model group. Pathological changes of outer hair cells were mild in Yifeng group, structure of hair cells was changed a little in Ermen group,pathological changes in Zhongzhu group were severe, but its degree was milder than that in model group.CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can improve and maintain the activity of succinic dehydrogenase, relieve or resist toxic effect of gentamycin, especially at Yifeng, then at Ermen and Zhongzhu.