Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2015, Vol. 10 ›› Issue (12): 1997-2003.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.172318

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Acupuncture for ischemic stroke: cerebellar activation may be a central mechanism following Deqi

Miao-keng Li1, #, Yu-jie Li2, #, Gui-feng Zhang3, Jun-qi Chen4, *, Ji-ping Zhang1, Ji Qi1, Yong Huang1, *, Xin-sheng Lai5, Chun-zhi Tang5   

  1. 1 School of Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
    2 First Clinical Medical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
    3 Zhaoqing Medical College, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, China
    4 Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
    5 College of Acupuncture and Massage, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2015-09-20 Online:2015-12-30 Published:2015-12-30
  • Contact: Yong Huang, M.D. or Jun-qi Chen, M.D., nfhy@fimmu.com or meixibao@126.com.
  • Supported by:

    This research was supported by the National Key Basic Research and Development Plan of China (973 Program), No. 2006CB504505, 2012CB518504; the “University Students Innovation Experiment Project” in Guangdong Province of China, No. 1212112038.

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Abstract:

The needling sensation of Deqi during acupuncture is a key factor of influencing acupuncture outcome. Recent studies have mainly focused on the brain function effects of Deqi in a physiological state. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on the effects of acupuncture at Waiguan (SJ5) in pathological and physiological states is controversial. In this study, 12 patients with ischemic stroke received acupuncture at Waiguan (SJ5) and simultaneously underwent fMRI scanning of the brain, with imaging data of the activated areas obtained. Based on the patient’s sensation, imaging data were allocated to either the Deqi group or non-Deqi group. In the Deqi group, the activated/deactivated areas were the left superior temporal gyrus (BA39)/right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and left thalamus. In the non-Deqi group, the activated areas included the medial frontal gyrus of the right frontal lobe (BA11), right limbic lobe (BA30, 35), and left frontal lobe (BA47), while the only deactivated area was the right parietal lobe (BA40). Compared with the non-Deqi group, the Deqi group exhibited marked activation of the right anterior lobe of the cerebellum and right limbic lobe (BA30). These findings confirm that the clinical effect of Deqi during acupuncture is based on brain functional changes. Cerebellar activation may be one of the central mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Key words:  nerve regeneration, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, functional magnetic resonance imaging, ischemic stroke, Brodmann area, Waiguan (SJ5) acupoint, Deqi, non-Deqi, 973 Program, neural regeneration