• Guang-ying Huang, Cui-hong Zheng, and Ming-min Zhang.
• Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. Gyhuang@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn
• Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2005 Aug 1; 25 (8): 565-8.

ObjectiveTo observe effects of acupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) and non-channel-non-acupoint on expression of connexion 43 in the rat, so as to probe into possible relationship between the acupoint and connexion 43 (Cx43).MethodsTwenty healthy SD rats were randomly divided into a non-acupuncture group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. Quantity and distribution of Cx43 on skin tissue of "Zusanli" and non-channel-non-acupoint were detected by immunohistochemistry with a fluorescence double-label technique and laser scanning confocal microscope.ResultsCx43 was mainly expressed in epidermis, hair follicles and other epithelial keratinocytes; the expression of Cx43 in the acupoint was significantly higher than that at the non-channel-non-acupoint in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.01); after acupuncture at acupoint expression of Cx43 in the acupuncture group significantly increased, with a very significant difference as compared with that in the acupoint in the non-acupuncture group (P<0.01).ConclusionConnexion 43 and gap junctions in acupoint are possibly the main components of acupoints, and acupuncture can significantly increase expression of connexion 43 in acupoints.

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