WANG Yingying, XU Dongsheng, BAI Wanzhu, YANG Jinsheng *

(Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China)

Abstract:  Objective:  To reveal the effects of  guasha(scraping)  on the histomorphology of local skin  tissues  by  adopting  immunofluorescence  histochemical  technique.  Method:  50  rats,  as experimental subjects, were randomly divided into 5 groups according to different observation time points. The 5 groups included normal group (group A), group of observation immediately after  guasha  (group  B),  group  of  observation  on  the  1st day  after  guasha  (group  C),  group  of observation on the 3rdday after  guasha  (group D) and group of observation on the 5thday after guasha  (group E), with  10  rats in each group. Dorsal setae were shaved for the exposure of skin on both sides of the spine. Even reinforcing and reducing method was applied to the rats in guashagroups on the site equivalent to bladder meridian of human body on one side of the spine, and the skin was guashaed from top to bottom until rash of measles occurred. The skin tissues with rash of measles were taken down after perfusion. The corresponding sites of rats in group A were also taken  down  as  control.  The  tissues  taken  down  were  placed  in  25%  hypertonic  glucose  for dehydration,  and  then  were  made  into  20μm  histologic  sections  by  freezing  microtome.  The sections were used for immunofluorescence histochemical staining and HE staining of antibodies such as substance P(SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).  Result:  In group B, there were significant differences in appearance, hair follicle and blood vessel on local skin  guashaed on the back of rats when compared with group A; in group C and group D, the differences reduced, and in group E, there was no significant difference when compared with group A. There was no significant difference in expression of CGRP and SP when compared local skin  guashaed on the back of rats in group B, group C, group D and group E with group A. Conclusion: Guasha didn't 

significantly change the morphology of nerve fibers inside local skin, and the histomorphology of hair follicle, blood vessel and etc. after  guasha  can basically return to normal level within five days, indicating the safety of guasha to some extent.

Key  words ： guasha  (Scraping  therapy); Morphology; Immunohistochemistry; substance P(SP); calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP).