Effects of GV14 Acupuncture on Cerebral Blood Flow Velocity in the Basilar and Middle Cerebral Arteries and CO2 Reactivity during Hypercapnia in Normal Individuals.

Hyun Ku Lee,Chang-Nam Ko,Seong-Uk Park,Sang-Kwan Moon,Jung-Mi Park,Chul Jin,Woo-Sang Jung,Seungwon Kwon,Seung-Yeon Cho,Ki-Ho Cho,Sheng-Li Yang

doi:10.1155/2021/9319413

Hyun Ku Lee, Chang-Nam Ko + Show 9 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/9319413

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Abstract

The Governing Vessel 14 (GV14) (Dazhui) is one of the acupuncture points referred to as “seven acupoints for stroke.” Nevertheless, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of acupuncture treatment at GV14. This study investigated the effects of acupuncture at GV14 on cerebral blood flow (CBF), especially that in the basilar artery (BA) and the middle cerebral arteries (MCA). Sixteen healthy men aged 20 to 29 years were enrolled in this study. CBF velocity and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) were measured using transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). The following were assessed: closed circuit rebreathing- (CCR-) induced carbon dioxide (CO2) reactivity, modified blood flow velocity at 40 mmHg (CV40) on BA and MCAs, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR). Observed results were obtained after comparison with the baseline evaluation. Statistically significant elevations in CO2 reactivity were recorded in the BA (3.28 to 4.70, p < 0.001) and MCAs (right: 3.81 to 5.25, p=0.001; left: 3.84 to 5.12, p=0.005) after acupuncture at GV14. The CV40 increased statistically significantly only in the BA (45.49 to 50.41, p=0.003). No change was observed in BP (106.83 to 107.08 (mmHg), p=0.335) and HR (77 to 75 (bpm), p=0.431). Acupuncture at GV14 improved CBF velocity. These results could be explained by the regulation of endothelium-dependent vessel dilation effected by acupuncture. This trial is registered with Korean Clinical Trial Registry (http://cris.nih.go.kr; registration number: KCT0004787).

Highlights

Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including stroke, for thousands of years
transcranial Doppler (TCD) has been used to support the evidence of the prognostication and initiation of preventive strategies in diseases caused by impairment of the cerebrovascular autoregulation, vasoreactivity, and cerebral hyperperfusion such as sickle cell disease [16], subarachnoid hemorrhage [17], stroke [18], dementia [19], vascular depression [20], and Fabry disease [21]
Changes of the CO2 Reactivity of the basilar artery (BA) and Both middle cerebral arteries (MCA) after Governing Vessel 14 (GV14) Acupuncture. ere was significant increase in the CO2 reactivity of the BA and both MCAs after GV14 acupuncture treatment compared with baseline (Table 2; Figure 6)

Summary

Introduction

Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including stroke, for thousands of years. Ey found increased blood flow to the site of brain ischemia and peripheral tissues Despite these various clinical uses, there was no study that has focused solely on the role of GV14 acupuncture for the CBF in humans. E research protocol was based on previous studies that used TCD to identify the relationship between blood flow in the cerebral arteries and acupuncture points [7, 8, 22,23,24,25, 35]. CO2 reactivity refers to the percent change in mean blood flow velocity per millimeter of mercury change in PETCO2, as calculated by the following formula [35]: Visit 1. Statistical comparisons between the study parameters before and after GV14 acupuncture treatment were made using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. p values under 0.05 were considered statistically significant. e data were summarized as the median (range)

Result

Findings

BA Right MCA Left MCA