Nerve-pathways of acupoint Fengch＇ih in rat by anterograde transport of HRP

AIM: To study the nervous-pathways of Fengchih acupuncture by means of anterograde transport of aqueous solution of horseradish peroxidase (HRP).METHODS: Fifty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 1,2, 3, 4, and 5 d groups, and every group had 10 animals. HRP(30% aqueous solution) was injected into a Fengchih. Serial,transverse or capital, 40μm sections of the cervical spinal ganglia, cervical and thoracic spinal cord segment and brain were cut on a cryotome. Sections were incubated for HRP histochemistry according to the tetramethylbenzidine (TMB).Part of the sections were counterstained with neutral red.RESULTS: After 1 d of survival times, many labeled cell bodies were found in 1-4 cervical spinal ganglia, anterior horn of 1-4 cervical spinal cord, ventromedial division of facial nucleus, accessory facial nucleus ipsilaterally. With increasing survival times, the intensity of labeled cells were slightly decreased.CONCLUSION: Fengchlh may bring into full play its effect by correlation of posterior ear branch of facial nerve and anterior branch of 2-3 cervical nerve with 1-4 cervical the anterior horn of the spinal cord, ventromedial division of facial nucleus, accessory facial nucleus.