A New Type of Signaling Pathways as Pilomotor Lines along Skin for Transmitting Acupuncture Signals to Produce Acupuncture Effects.

Chin J Physiol. 2015 Jun 30;58(3). pii: CJP.2015.BAD290. doi: 10.4077/CJP.2015.BAD290. [Epub ahead of print]
A New Type of Signaling Pathways as Pilomotor Lines along Skin for Transmitting Acupuncture Signals to Produce Acupuncture Effects.
Liu LY1.

In our previous study, we observed a linear system consisted of sympathetic endings in the arrector pili muscles (AP muscles) along the rat skin termed sympathetic substance lines, or SSLs. After shaving the hair of the rats, the first wave of hair re-growth was not evenly distributed, but followed specific hair loop lines (HLLs). The patterns of HLL and SSL correspond with each other and also with the "Meridians" described in Chinese traditional medicine (CTM). Here I investigated in rabbits and rats whether the acupuncture signals are transmitted via the SSL/HLL, and whether the acupuncture analgesia (AA) is dependent on any peripheral mechanism. Firstly, when acupuncture was operated or phenylephrine, an agonist for α receptor, was injected into the dermis at an acupoint, a pilomotor line occurred. The course of the pilomotor line coincided with the SSL/HLL. When the skin was incised or regitin, an antagonist for α receptor, was injected into the dermis, the pilomotor line did not cross the site of incision or injection. These results directly demonstrated the process of transmission of acupuncture signals involving the pilomotor line and the sympathetic. Secondly, AA produced by acupuncture at an acupoint was significantly blocked when the skin was incised or regitin was injected into the dermis along the SSL/HLL or the Meridian. These results suggest that the factor that blocked the pilomotor line also blocked the AA and the pilomotor line related to the AA. Lastly, noradrenaline was shown to be released from the skin along the Meridian line after acupuncture; when phenylephrine was injected into an acupoint, AA was strongly simulated. All these results indicate that: 1. the transmission pathway of acupuncture signals exists in the skin, just as the Meridians described in the CTM; 2. these pathways are the SSLs/HLLs and the pilomotor lines; and 3. the pilomotor line is just for the transmission of acupuncture signals and the transmission is dependent on the α receptor in the AP muscles, specifically the contraction of the AP muscles. Moreover, these findings suggest a new system and a new type of signal transmission in the physiology.

Thanks a ton for this informative post on acupuncture Effects. I didn’t know that Acupuncture has such great benefits. I have heard a lot about the facial acupuncture effects but never tried that. But after reading this post I will definitely visit the Mississauga acupuncture clinic for getting the facial acupuncture.

What is this study telling us in laymens terms?

Kazbar wrote:What is this study telling us in laymens terms?

There have been little known theories (some posts on this forum) on the potential of arrector pili muscles to be a major factor in MPB.  When the arrector pili muscles fail and become damaged, further hair growth cannot be sustained.

So this study discusses a new identified pathway on how meridian lines can affect these arrector pili muscles (via through Pilomotor Lines) and how these arrector pili muscles are changed with hormones of the nervous system.

In the study references above, acupuncture analgesia (AA) was used, a treatment for pain. On that note that both pain and heat are introduced through the same mechanism. Anything that helps to arrest pain will also address the heat as well.

To summarize how acupuncture works, it uses the element of "Qi"(chee), said to circulate throughout the whole body along certain pathways, called "Meridians" or Meridian lines, distributed along the surface of the body. Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles into "acupoints" along the Meridians to excite Qi, a procedure also called acu-esthesia. 

In everyday terms, this type of technique increases circulation...whenever there is stagnation (a block in the flow)...think of a stagnant pond, there is either infection or pathogen activity. In a flowing stream, there cannot be pathogens, therefore infections cannot occur. Reestablishing a flow, or the proper circulation allows normal physiology, and it's really no surprise that this would work.

Further,  the researchers used nervous system hormones expressed in different stages to gauge the effect.

So a focus on what affects the arrector pili muscles should be considered.

One of these factors is heat shock protein-27 (HSP27). This protein expression is found in the epidermis, sebaceous glands, sweat glands, and arrector pili muscles

Thanks CS very interesting!