Electroacupuncture at ST25 inhibits jejunal motility: Role of sympathetic pathways and TRPV1

Figure 1 Experimental procedure. Time course of interventions in rodents without drugs (A); Time course of interventions in the rats with drug administration (B). In the electroacupuncture (EA) period, different intensities of EA (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 mA for rats; 1, 2, and 4 for mice) were applied at ST25 acupoint in an ascending order.

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Figure 2 Three types of basal (untreated) jejunal motor patterns observed in the experiment. Representative examples of types A (A), B (B), and C (C) jejunal motor patterns.

Figure 3 Jejunal response of types A and B rats to electroacupuncture stimulation at ST25 acupoint. Representative examples of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at ST25 with different intensities in types A (A) and B (B) rats (n = 8).

Figure 4 Jejunal responses to electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at ST25 in WT and TRPV1^-/- mice. Representative examples of EA at ST25 with different intensities in wild-type (WT, A) and TRPV1^-/- mice (B); Percentage inhibition of jejunal motility after EA at ST25 with different intensities (C). ^aP < 0.05 vs WT; ^bP < 0.01 vs WT; ^cP < 0.05 vs 1 mA; ^dP < 0.001 vs 1 mA; ^eP < 0.05 vs 2 mA (n = 8).

Figure 5 Jejunal response of type C rats to electroacupuncture stimulation at ST25, and effect of propranolol and clenbuterol on electroacupuncture- induced inhibition of jejunal contraction in type C rats. Representative examples of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation at ST25 with different intensities in type C rats (A); The fitting curve of the inhibitory effect of EA stimulation at ST25 on jejunal motility in type C rats (B); Representative examples of EA stimulation at ST25 with different intensities after administration of propranolol administration (C); The fitting curve of inhibitory effect of EA stimulation at ST25 on jejunal motility in the presence of propranolol (D); Representative examples of EA stimulation at ST25 with different intensities after administration of clenbuterol (E); The fitting curve of inhibitory effect of EA stimulation at ST25 on jejunal motility in the presence of clenbuterol (F). ∆: Time of drug administration (n = 8).

Figure 6 Effect of propranolol and clenbuterol on electroacupuncture-induced inhibition of jejunal contraction in type C rats. 3 mA (A), 5 mA (B), 7 mA (C), and 9 mA (D). ^aP < 0.05 vs drug-free, ^bP < 0.01 vs drug-free (n = 8).