Relationships between electrical conductivity of acupuncture points and adaptation hormones

Abstract

Background. Modern scientific research has shown that the inherent regulatory system of the body is a neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network. A researcher proposed a hypothesis, that the bidirectional positive regulatory role of acupuncture was achieved by NEI network. The purpose of this study is to find out relationships between electrical conductivity (EC) of acupuncture points (AP) and adaptation hormones one of the elements of NEI network. Materials and methods. The object of observation were 10 women (32-76 years) and 10 men (37-67 years) examined twice with a weekly interval. The volunteers were considered practically healthy, but with maladaptation. We recorded EC in AP Pg(ND), TR(X) and MC(AVL) (by complex “Medissa”) as well as serum Cortisol, Aldosterone, Testosterone, Triiodothyronine, Calcitonin and PTH (by the ELISA). For statistical analysis used the software package "Statistica 6.4". Results. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed the closest relationship with AP Testosterone raw level (R=0,485). Testosterone level, normalized by sex and age, was associated with AP to the same extent (R=0,439), but positive correlations were transformed into negative ones. Calcitonin level was also moderately positively correlated with AP (R=0,441). PTH was significantly correlated only with TR(X) lateralization (r=-0,363; p=0,022) and Triiodothyronine only with MC(AVL) lateralization (r=0,315; p=0,048). The connections of Aldosterone with AP lateralization turned out to be insignificant, and from the side of Cortisol, they were negligible at all. Despite moderate pairwise correlations, the canonical correlation between the levels of adaptation Hormones, on the one hand, and EC of AP and their lateralization, on the other hand, turned out to be quite strong (R=0,856). Conclusion. Electrical conductivity of AP and their lateralization is 73% determined by the constellation of adaptation hormones, which are an important component of the NEI network. In the next message, we will demonstrate the existence of connections between AP and parameters of EEG and heart rate variability as well as Immunity.