Objective:

2

To quantify the purine concentrations of the acupoints along the pericardium and nonpericardium meridians under healthy and myocardial ischemia conditions to investigate the relationship between acupoint purine change and body functional status in rats.

Methods:

2

A total of 70 rats underwent an operation for myocardial ischemia

while 40 of them survived. They were randomly assigned to the following 5 subgroups: Neiguan (PC 6)

Quze (PC 3)

Tianquan (PC 2)

Quchi (LI 11)

and Jianyu (LI 15). Simultaneously

another 40 healthy rats were also randomized into the same 5 subgroups as the control group. The tissue fluids at the acupoints were collected by microdialysis for 30 min. Subsequently

the concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)

adenosine diphosphate (ADP)

adenosine monophosphate (AMP)

and adenosine (ADO) were quantified using the high-performance liquid chromatography method.

Results:

2

Compared with the healthy group

the ADO at PC 6 (

P

=0.012)

PC 3 (

P

=0.038)

PC 2 (

P

=0.024)

and LI 15 (

P

=0.042) obviously increased in the model group

while no significant difference was observed at LI 11 (

P

=0.201). However

ATP

ADP

and AMP manifested no significant changes in these areas

except for ATP at LI 15 (

P

=0.036).

Conclusions:

2

Myocardial ischemia could induce an increase in ADO at acupoints of the upper arm and shoulder area

suggesting that the body functional status could affect the responsiveness of acupoints. The status of these acupoints could be pathogenically activated by disease

and distribution following some specific courses.