Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the effects of acupuncturing PC_8_ used perpendicular needling method determine the mechanism of action of acupuncturing PC_8_ by measuring the changes of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) in normal rats.
Methods : This study also investigated the effects of acupuncturing PC_8_ on the change of rCBF in cerebral ischemic rats, and revealed the mechanism of its action. In addition, the effects of acupuncturing PC_8_ on focal ischemic brain injury was studied in cerebral ischemic rats.
Results : 1. Acupuncturing PC_8_ significantly increase rCBF but decreased MABP in normal rats. 2. Acupuncturing PC_8_ increased of rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with indomethacin (1mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase in normal rats.
3. Acupuncturing PC_8_ increased of rCBF was significantly inhibited by pretreatment methylene blue (10 ㎍/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase in normal rats.
4. Acupuncturing PC_8_ was significantly improved the rCBF than control group increased unstable in cerebral ischemic rats.
5. Acupuncturing PC_8_ was not significantly improved the rCBF than control group by pretreatment with indomethacin (1mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase in cerebral ischemic rats.
6. Acupuncturing PC_8_ was significantly increased the rCBF than control group by pretreatment methylene blue (10㎍/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase in cerebral ischemic rats.
Conclusions : In conclusion, our study suggested that acupuncturing PC_8_ can increase rCBF in normal state, and improve stability of rCBF in ischemic state. In addition, we suggested that mechanisms related with acupuncturing PC_8_ was involved in the guanylate cyclase pathway.