EXPLORING THE MECHANISM OF ACUPUNCTURE IN THE TREATMENT OF STROKE FROM CHANGES OF GLUCOSE METABbLISM IN THE CEREBRAL MOTOR CENTER

摘要

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on cerebral glucose metabolism in stroke patients. Methods:Changes of cerebral glucose metabolism before and after acupuncture stimulation were observed in six cases of stroke patients by using positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. Electroacupuncture (EA,4 HZ, continuous waves and duration of 20 min) was applied to Baihui (GV 20) and right Qubin (GB 7). 18 Fluorine deox-yglucose (18FDG), a developer (radioactive form of glucose) for showing the levels of the brain functional activity was given to the patients Intravenously. SPM software was used to deal with the data of each pixel point by unilateral t-test (Ts: P=0.05), then, the regions showing increase/decrease of the glucose metabolism were obtained. Results! After acupuncture stimulation, significant increase of glucose metabolism was found to be in the first somatic motor cortical region (MI), supplementary motor area (SMA), premotor area (PMC), and the superior parietal lobule (LPs) on the healthy side of the brain; while the decreaseof glucose metabolism found in Ml, PMC and LPs on the focus side. In addition to the cerebral regions related to the motor function, changes of glucose metabolism were also found in the parietal lobule and basal ganglion area, central parietal gyrus, superior parietal gyms, putamen, cerebellum, etc. .Con elusion: Acupuncture of Qubin (GB 7) and Baihui (GV 20) can activate motor-related cerebral structures in the bilateral cerebral hemisphere and induce excitement reaction of the potentially correlative motor area so as to compensate or assist the injured motor area to play a role in improving motor function in stroke patients.