Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25887143›Full record

ArticleBMC complementary and alternative medicine2015

Acupoint specificity on acupuncture regulation of hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal cortex axis function.

Shao-jun Wang, Jiao-jiao Zhang, Hao-yan Yang, Fang Wang, Si-ting Li

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 26 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
26citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
1.1field-weighted citation impact, top 27% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

26 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 43 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Advances in Medical Devices for Augmented Acupuncture Therapy.Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) · 2025
    Review
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  14. Review
  15. Article
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  17. The Efficacy of Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the Treatment of Female Infertility.Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM · 2021
    Review
  18. Review
  19. Article
  20. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Shao-jun WangChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dong Zhi Men Nei Nan Xiao Street, No.16, Beijing, 100700, China. ddwsj5@sina.com.
Jiao-jiao ZhangChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dong Zhi Men Nei Nan Xiao Street, No.16, Beijing, 100700, China. 284293009@qq.com.
Hao-yan YangChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dong Zhi Men Nei Nan Xiao Street, No.16, Beijing, 100700, China. yhy19910325@sohu.com.
Fang WangChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dong Zhi Men Nei Nan Xiao Street, No.16, Beijing, 100700, China. twangfang@163.com.
Si-ting LiChina Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Dong Zhi Men Nei Nan Xiao Street, No.16, Beijing, 100700, China. Listing119@126.com.
Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe hypothalamus is an essential part of the brain that responds to a variety of signaling including stressful stimulations and acupuncture signals. It is also the key element of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis(HPAA). The effect of acupuncture is transmitted into the brain from the distance sensory receptor around the acupoints via peripheral nerves and body fluid. In vivo recording the activities of stress reaction neurons (SRNs, CRH-like neurons) in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) in response to the stimulations from different acupoints could therefore objectively reflect the acupuncture afferent effect.

methodsIn this study, the electrophysiological method was adopted to record synchronously the activities of 43 CRH-like neurons after acupuncture stimulations at 33 acupoints located at the different regions. The acupoints that specifically activate certain CRH-like neurons (specificity acupoints) were selected. Furthermore, we investigated in a rat model of unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) whether these specificity acupoints regulate HPAA function. The endpoints of measurement include corticosterone (CORT) level in peripheral blood, the expressions of corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) protein in PVN and the animal behavioral performance.

resultsOur results reveal that Shenshu (BL23), Ganshu (BL18), Qimen (LR14), Jingmen (GB25), Riyue (GB24), Zangmen (LR13), Dazui (DU14) and auricular concha region (ACR) are the specificity acupoints; and Gallbladder, Liver and Du Channels were the specificity Channels. The acupoints on Gallbladder Channel and the acupoints innervated by the same spinal cord segments as the adrenal gland demonstrated dramatic effects.

conclusionsThis study provides a new platform to further explore acupoints specificity in the regulation of HPAA activities.

Indexed as

Acupuncture PointsAcupuncture TherapyAdrenal CortexAnimalsBehavior, AnimalCorticosteroneCorticotropin-Releasing HormoneHypothalamo-Hypophyseal SystemHypothalamusMaleMeridiansParaventricular Hypothalamic NucleusPituitary-Adrenal SystemRats, Sprague-DawleyReceptors, GlucocorticoidStress, PsychologicalCorticosteroneCorticotropin-Releasing HormoneReceptors, Glucocorticoid

Identifiers

PMID25887143
PMCPMC4378553
OpenAlexW2069401391

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.