The Effect Of Electrical Acupuncture On Cerebral Microvascular Vasodilation In Rat Under Acute Hemorrhagic Hypotension

The effect of electrical acupuncture on the cerebral microcirculation was evaluated in anesthetized rats under acute hemorrhagic hypotension. After anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital, acute hypotension model was produced by withdrawing blood. A needle acupuncture was made at Qian Shanli in the rat left forearm, and the electric stimulation was given for 5 min with 100 Hz. The pial microcirculation, visualized with FITC-labeled red cells and RITC-labeled dextran, was observed before, during and after acupuncture. Based on the videoimages, the arteriolar diameter, red cell velocity and flow-rate were measured. The pial arterioles were dilated with a decrease in arterial pressure; its vasodilation was enhanced with acupuncture. The flow-rate was increased at 60min after acupuncture, compared with the control without acupuncture. Acupuncture might work to improve the cerebral microcirculation.