Evidence Details for Zhongliao
PMID Title Journal Year Abstract
29109130 Effects of electroacupuncture at BL33 on detrusor smooth muscle activity in a rat model of urinary retention. Acupunct Med. 2017 Dec;35(6):437-444. doi: 10.1136/acupmed-2016-011355. Epub 2017 Nov 6. 2017 Dec BACKGROUND: Detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) underactivity may lead to urinary retention (UR). Electroacupuncture (EA) at BL33 may be effective in improving DSM contractions. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate: (1) the effect of EA at BL33; and (2) the effect of different manipulation methods at BL33 on the modulation of DSM contractions in UR rats. METHODS: 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetised with urethane and modelled by urethral outlet obstruction. First, 2 Hz EA at BL33, SP6 and LI4 wasrandomly applied to the UR rats for 5 min to observe the immediate effects (n=10); second, manual acupuncture (MA) (n=10) and 100 Hz EA (n=10) were applied with the same programme. DSM electromyography (EMG) and cystometrogram data were evaluated. RESULTS: (1) 2 Hz EA at BL33 and SP6 significantly increased DSM discharging frequency (0.80+/-0.10 Hz, P<0.001, and 0.22+/-0.14 Hz, P=0.038), shortened micturation intervals (65.67+/-20.65 s, P=0.008, and 35.62+/-15.84 s, P=0.042), prolonged the duration of voiding (2.13+/-0.61 s, P=0.005, and 0.47+/-0.16 s, P=0.015), and reduced residual pressure (-0.91+/-0.31 mmHg, P=0.019, and -0.66+/-0.27 mmHg, P=0.046). EA at LI4 was not associated with any functional effects (P>0.05). Compared with SP6, EA at BL33 had greater positive effects on DSM discharging frequency, duration of discharging, and duration of voiding (all P<0.05). (2) No statistically significant differences were shown between MA, 2 Hz EA and 100 Hz EA interventions when stimulating at BL33, SP6 or LI4. CONCLUSIONS: EA at BL33 improved DSM contractions to a greater degree than EA at SP6 or LI4. There were no differences in effect when stimulating using 2 Hz EA, 100 Hz EA and MA."

Evidence Sentence: BL33 (Zhongliao) and SP6 (Sanyinjiao) are the most commonly used traditional acupuncture points in clinical trials.