Objective: To display the low hydraulic resistance channel along the running course of the Conception Vessel (CV) by using in vivo fluorography, so as to provide evidence for the existence of meridians of traditional Chinese medicine from the aspect of interstitial fluid channel.
Methods: A total of 24 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely CV-low impedance spots (CV-LIS), CV-low hydraulic resistance points (CV-LHRP) and non-meridian points (NMP) groups (n＝8 in each group). The CV-LIS (the imaged line between the xiphoid process and symphysis pubis), CV-LHRP (lateral and parallel to LIS) and NMP (lateral and parallel to CV-LHRP) were detected by using meridian detector and biofluid resistance meter, respectively. Sodium fluorescein solution (1%) was injected into the spot (A-spot, upper 1/5 of the CV-LIS), and one of the NMP (about 1 cm lateral and parallel to the A-spot, and the mid-point between the Kidney and Stomach meridian running courses) by using a microsyringe for observing the migration trace of sodium fluorescein.
Results: After injection of fluorescein, the migration trace of fluorescein appeared along the CV-LIS and CV-LHRP lines, and only local diffusion was found in the NMP group. The migration trace lengths along the CV-LIS and CV-LHRP were significantly longer than that of the NMP group (P<0.01), and the migration width of CV-LIS and CV-LHRP groups was significantly smaller than that of the NMP group (P<0.01). The migration speed of CV-LIS and CV-LHRP groups was significantly higher than that of the NMP group (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Fluorography is able to be used to display the running course of CV, possibly supporting the existence of meridians from the interstitial fluid channel and providing a new method for visualization of meridians.
Keywords: Conception Vessela; Fluorography; Low hydraulic resistance channel; Meridians; Sodium fluorescein.