Objective: To explore the underlying mechanism by which acupuncture regulates the peripheral leukocyte count and observe the relationship between the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) and the spleen ultrastructure in leukopenia. Methods: Leukopenia models of rabbits were established by injecting cyclophosphamide (CY) into rabbits' ear vein,and then the rabbits were treated with acupuncture. The peripheral leukocyte count and classification were measured daily. At last, after the animals were anesthesized, the abdominal cavity was opened, and a piece of spleen tissue was cut. The diameter of splenic sinusoid basal lamina eyehole was measured under electric microscope. Results: The peripheral blood leukocyte count in the EA group increased significantly with shift to right of the granulocyte nuclei compared with model control group (P＜0.01). Moreover, the calibers of splenic sinusoid basal lamina eyehole in the EA group were larger than those in the model control group (P＜0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture can enhance the peripheral leukocyte count by promoting spleen activity in the early phase of leukopenia.

This study was designed to observe the negative pressure in the cup during cupping, and to investigate the influence of negative pressure on the depth of filiform-needle inserted and retained. In the beginning, the change of pressure after cupping on acupoint BL23 for a span of 20 minutes was recorded. Acupuncture on acupoint BL23 was performed; the filiform-needle was retained and followed by cupping at different levels of negative pressure, and the changes of the depth of needle insertion was measured. The results showed: the absolute value of the negative pressure in the cup goes down with time and is significantly lower after 20 minutes (P < 0.05); the negative pressure in the cup causes the retreat of the inserted needle; and under the same pressure, there is a greater length measurement in needle retreat for male than for female (P < 0.01). The length of needle retreat is related to the pressure in the cupping-cup and to gender.
Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Pressure ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult