Clin Hemorheol Microcirc. 2000 ; 23(2-4): 191-5.

Microvascular vasodilatory responses to electric acupuncture in rat brain under acute hemorrhagic hypotension.

Niimi H, Yamaguchi S, Hu QH, Zhuang FY.

Department of Vascular Physiology, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan. niimi@ri.ncvc.go.jp

The present experiment attempted to evaluate the effect of electrical acupuncture on the cerebral microcirculation in anesthetized rats, using fluorescence videomicroscopy. Changes in the pial arteriolar diameter under acute hemorrhagic hypotension were examined quantitatively. The present results suggest that acupuncture may be effective in improving the cerebral microcirculation in hemorrhagic hypotension.