Abstract: Background　Ashi acupoint is a commonly used acupoint for the treatment of skeletal muscle injury by acupuncture and moxibustion.However，the timing of intervention for acute skeletal muscle injury has not been reported.Objective　To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture（EA） at Ashi acupoint at different time points on high-frequency ultrasound-based gastrocnemius（GM） contusion injury score，and serum CK in a rat model of GM contusion Injury.Methods　In September 2017，60 male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were randomly divided into blank group （n=6），model group （n=18），24 h EA group （n=18） and 72 h EA group（n=18）．Except the blank group，other three groups were treated with the method developed by our research group（put forward in a previous study of ours） for establishing the acute contusion model of GM muscle，and ultrasound imaging technology was used to evaluate the modeling.As rats can not talk like humans，we selected the midpoint of the injured GM muscle abdomen，identified with ultrasound guidance，as the needling site.Except the blank group，6 rats in each group were captured at the 3rd，5th and 7th days（each time different ones were captured） after modeling to receive the following interventions：rats in 24 h EA group，72 h EA group were given the first EA treatment at 24，72 hours after GM muscle injury，respectively.Rats in model group were grasped and fixed by the same way simultaneously，but received no EA treatment.The blank group received no intervention.High-frequency ultrasound examination of injury severity and ultrasound-based GM injury scoring of rats in each group were performed at the 3rd，5th and 7th days after modeling，respectively，then they were sacrificed in batch to test serum CK value.Results　There were no significant differences in ultrasound-based GM injury score evaluated immediately，on the 3rd，5th，and 7th days after modeling among the model group，24 h EA group，and 72 h EA group （P>0.05）．On the 3rd day after modeling，the difference of ultrasound-based GM contusion injury score between the interventional time point and immediately after modeling in the 24 h EA group was higher than model group，72 h EA group （P<0.05）．The serum CK levels on the 3rd，5th and 7th days after modeling in the model group were all higher than those in the blank group （P<0.05）．The serum CK levels in 24 h EA group on the 5th and 7th days after modeling were both higher than the blank group（P<0.05）．In 72 h EA group，the serum CK level was lower than that of the model group on the 3rd day after modeling，and higher than that of blank group on the 5th and 7th days after modeling （P<0.05）．Conclusion　EA at the Ashi acupoint improved the GM contusion injury in rats.And applying EA treatment at 24 hours after injury may promote the repair earlier.

Key words: Wounds and injuries；Muscle, skeletal；Electroacupuncture；Points, Ashi；Ultrasonography；Creatine kinase

摘要： 背景　阿是穴是针灸治疗骨骼肌损伤的常用穴位。然而，其在急性骨骼肌损伤后的干预时机尚未有相关报道。目的　观察不同时机电针阿是穴对腓肠肌钝挫伤大鼠腓肠肌高频超声成像评分、血清肌酸激酶（CK）水平的影响。方法　2017年9月，将清洁级健康成年雄性SD大鼠60只随机分为空白组（n=6）、模型组（n=18）、24 h电针组（n=18）、72 h电针组（n=18）。除空白组外，模型组、24 h电针组、72 h电针组均参照本课题组前期研究的方法建立腓肠肌急性钝挫伤模型，并采用超声成像技术进行评定。由于动物无言语表达能力，研究中阿是穴的选取以局部病灶（即腓肠肌肌腹的中点，辅以超声进行病灶定位）作为针刺部位。除空白组外，各组造模后3、5、7 d分别抓取不同的6只大鼠进行以下操作：24 h电针组在钝挫伤后24 h进行1次针刺治疗，72 h电针组在钝挫伤后72 h进行1次针刺治疗。模型组与2个电针组同步抓取与固定，但不做电针干预。空白组不做任何处理。记录各组大鼠造模后3、5、7 d超声分级评分表评分。评分后处死，记录各组大鼠造模后3、5、7 d血清CK水平。结果　模型组、24 h电针组、72 h电针组大鼠造模后即刻、3、5、7 d超声分级评分表评分比较，差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。造模后3 d、24 h电针组大鼠不同时间点造模后即刻超声分级评分表评分与干预后超声分级评分表评分差值大于模型组、72 h电针组（P<0.05）。模型组大鼠造模后3、5、7 d血清CK水平均高于空白组（P<0.05）；24 h电针组大鼠造模后5、7 d血清CK水平均高于空白组（P<0.05）；72 h电针组大鼠造模后3 d血清CK水平低于模型组，5、7 d血清CK水平均高于空白组（P<0.05）。结论　电针阿是穴能有效促进大鼠腓肠肌钝挫伤后的组织修复，损伤后24 h电针阿是穴治疗能较早地促进组织修复。

关键词: 创伤和损伤；肌, 骨骼；电针；穴, 阿是；超声检查；肌酸激酶