Research update: Acupuncture around the sacral vertebrae suppresses bladder activity related neurons in the brainstem

November 4, 2011 · by Sean Heneghan · Acupuncture News, Research

Researchers in China have been investigating the effect of acupuncture to the sacral vertebrae on the bladder function of rats.The mechanism of how acupuncture, or peripheral nerve stimulation, may affect bladder function has been unclear. This study, using urethane-anesthetized rats, investigated the effects of acupuncture stimulation of the sacral vertebrae on bladder activity and bladder activity-related neurons in and around Barrington’s nucleus. In 95 of 147 trials (64.6%), acupuncture stimulation of the sacral vertebrae for 1min suppressed bladder contraction. Acupuncture-induced suppression of bladder contraction was blocked by intraperitoneal injection of bicuculline.

The researchers report that acupuncture stimulation strongly affected bladder activity-related neurons, including those which fired only prior to the start of contraction, those whose firing was maintained during contraction, and those whose firing was strongly suppressed during contraction. All Type E1 neurons and most Type E2 neurons decreased firing when bladder activity was suppressed by acupuncture stimulation.

The researchers concluded that these findings suggest that acupuncture stimulation of the sacral vertebrae suppresses bladder contraction and changes the firing properties of bladder activity-related neurons in and around Barrington’s nucleus, and that these changes are mediated by GABAergic systems.

Full details here:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22001760

Leave a Reply