Protective effect of the external qi of qigong on the primary culture of neurocytes in vitro against free radical damage

This paper reported that the protective effects of emitted qi on cultured neurons damaged by free radical were determined. The neuronal cell's suspension was made with the cerebral cortex of Wistar O—day newborn rats and it was cultured in dishes. At 8—day postplating, the dishes were divided into 3 groups, i. e. emitted qi group, damaged group and normal control group. The neurons of front two groups were injured by hydroxyl free radical generated in ascorbic acid system. We observed that the brightness of the somatic margin in damaged group turned from bright to dark, the volume of neuronal somata was increased, the number of neissl body decreased, the effusion of LDH increased and GSH-Px activity changed obviously. These evidences indicated the neurons in damaged group had swelling or degenerating. But in emitted qi group, the effusion of LDH was less than that of the damaged group ,both groups showed obvious difference ( P <0.01±0.001), GSH-Px activity changed a little. The results show that the emitted qi of qigong may act as a scavenger of hydroxy radical and protect nerve cell membrane.

Key words: cultured neurons,e mitted qi of qigong, lactate dehydrogenase, glutathione peroxidase