Effect of electroacupuncture in Weijing points on gastrointestinal interdigestive migrating motor complex and brain gut peptides release in dogs

Interdigestive gastrointestinal migrating motor complex (MMC) activities were recorded by strain gauge implanted on the serosa in 7 conscious dogs. We studied the effects of electroacupuncture (EAP) Weijing points Zusanli (S36), Tianshu (S25), Liangmen (S21) on MMC and release of motilin and gastrin, and compared them with that of EAP Pangguangjing points. The results indicated that EAP Weijing points could not only strengthen MMC contractions in antrum, duodenum and proximal jejunum, but also increase plasma concentration of motilin and gastrin. Anti-motilin serum, proglumide, atropine, or hexamethonium could markedly block the effect of EAP on reinforcing MMC contraction and release of motilin and gastrin. We could get the conclusions that such enhancing effect of EAP Weijing points on MMC and brain-gut peptides release is mediated by motilin and gastrin, on which both cholinergic nerve and sympathetic nerve play important roles.