針刺足三里對動物腦部的Y型神經胜形成作用的研究

張永賢 
中國醫藥學
針灸足三里可致胃腸蠕動亢進，可是，他的致效機轉尚未完全解明。由於腦內Y型神經胜（NPY）的上昇被認為是刺激食慾的主因。為了瞭解這項原因，本項計畫擬用當代的分子生物學技術來探討，預行下列三種研究工作來評估針灸足三里在老鼠所出現的變化：
1.運用腸道蠕動的測試，比較針灸足三里在高血壓（陽實型）老鼠或糖尿病（陰虛型）老鼠所出現的效果與普通老鼠的差異。 
2.藉由同位素免疫測定法（RIA），定量上述三種老鼠的腦部控制食慾部位（下視丘）之「Y 型神經胜（NPY）」；比較針灸與否的含量變化。 
3.經由電泳的北方顯影（Northern blotting），取上述三種老鼠的腦部來分出下視丘部位，抽取內有的RNA，與NPY的cDNA探針（probe）進行雜交（hybridization）。然後，比較顯現的影像與β-action的比例（ratio）；評估針灸足三里與否的mRNA活性變化。 
經由所得結果，可順利得知針灸足三里的老鼠在腦部確實引致NPY形成，並探討這項變化在「陽實」或「陰虛」狀態的可能差異；對於中醫現代化的解說極有助益。

關鍵字：大白鼠、Y型神經胜、足三里、針灸、分子生物技術

Effect of acupuncture on the mRNA of neuroprptide Y(NPY) in rates

Stimulation of Zusanli point by acupuncture can modulate the gastroenteric function and it has been applied in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. The present proposal is designed to know the role of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in this Stimulation of Zusanli. Rats receive the electroacupuncture inserted in Zusanli point will be employed to investigate the changes of intestinal transit activity and the contents of NPY-immunoreactivity in the hypothalamus by comparison with sham-treated control. Then, the biosynthesis of NPY will be characterized using Northern blotting analysis of mRNA levels. Differences between rats receiving Zusanli stimulation and sham-treated rats will be discussed in an attempt to understand the participation of NPY. The obtained results may help the understanding of possible mechanisms responsible for an increase of intestinal mobility by acupuncture at Zusanli point.


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