Objective: To study the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Hegu" (LI 4) and/or "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) on immune functions in gastric carcinoma rats after operation.
Methods: Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control, ST36, L14, SP6, ST36 + LI4, ST36 + SP6, LI4 + SP6, ST36 + LI4 + SP6, non-acupoint (about 10 mm lateral to ST36) and model groups, with 6 cases in each. Gastric carcinoma model was made by intraperitoneal injection of Walker-256 cloned strain (0.1 ml, 2 x 10(7) cells). EA (2-100 Hz, 1-3 mA) was applied to these acupoints for 30 min, once daily for 7 days. Serum IgG, IgM, IgA, C3 and C4 contents were detected with simple immunodiffusion method; and CD4+ and CD8+ levels were measured by flow cytometry.
Results: In comparison with normal control group, serum IgG, IgM, IgA, C3, C4 and CD8+ contents, and CD4+/CD8+ in model group decreased significantly (P < 0.05, 0.01); while CD8+ content in model group increased remarkably (P < 0.01). Compared with model group, serum IgG, IgM, IgA, C3, C4, CD4+, CD8+ and CD4+/CD8+ in non-acupoint group had no significant changes (P > 0.05), while most of these indexes in EA groups (ST36, LI4, SP6, ST36+ LI4, ST36 + SP6, LI4 + SP6, ST36 + LI4 + SP6) increased considerably (P < 0.05, 0.01) except CD8+ level (decreased significantly, P < 0.05, 0.01). No significant differences were found among 7 EA groups (P > 0.05), but the effects of ST36 + LI4 + SP6 group were slightly better than those of the other 6 EA groups.
Conclusion: EA of "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Hegu" (LI 4) or "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) or two of them or these 3 acupoints can obviously enhance the immune function of post-surgery rats with gastric carcinoma.