Effects of Different Intensity Laser Acupuncture at Two Adjacent Same-meridian Acupoints on Nitric Oxide and Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Releases in Human.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to detect the influences of laser acupuncture (LA) at non-acupoint and two adjacent acupoints of pericardium meridian on the releases of nitric oxide (NO) and soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) in 20 healthy subjects.

METHODS: Different intensities (12 mW, 24 mW, 48 mW) infrared laser were used for irradiating Jianshi (PC5), Ximen (PC4) acupoints and non-acupoint for 20 min, 40 min, respectively. Semi-circular tubes were taped to the skin surface and filled with NO-scavenging compound for 20 min to capture NO and sGC which were measured using spectrophotometry in a blinded fashion.

RESULTS: As the increase in the intensity of LA stimulation, the levels of NO releases over acupoints all were significantly increased, NO releases in non-acupoints following the same treatment only changed slightly, sGC amounts were observably enhanced over acupoints, but did not any change in non-acupoint area. Different intensities LA treatments can sensitively affect the NO and sGC releases over acupoints. This indicated that LA-induced the releases of the NO and sGC were specific to acupoints.

CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evidence reporting that LA induced significant elevations of NO-sGC releases over acupoints, the enhanced signal molecules contribute to local circulation, which improves the beneficial effects of the therapy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS: Acupuncture points; Nitrate and nitrite; Nitric oxide; laser acupuncture; local circulation; meridian; soluble guanylate cyclase

PMID: 28665547 DOI: 10.1111/micc.12390