为了观察针刺"孔最"(LU6)和"郁金"(LU10)对哮喘大鼠诱发潜伏期、肺功能以及内皮素-1 (ET-1)和金属硫蛋白-2 (MT-2)表达的影响，并探讨针刺缓解气道平滑肌痉挛和改善哮喘急性发作的可能机制。将40只SPF级别的雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常组、模型组、药物组和针刺组，每组10只大鼠。除了正常组外，其余3组采用蛋清蛋白致敏方法建立哮喘模型。药物组采用沙丁胺醇雾化给药，针刺组在"孔最"(LU6)和"郁金"(LU10)双侧施加针刺。两组干预每天进行14天。观察诱发哮喘的潜伏期和肺功能，通过ELISA方法检测血清和支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中ET-1和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α的水平，通过Masson染色观察气道形态，通过透射电镜观察气道平滑肌的超微结构，通过实时定量PCR和Western blot方法检测肺组织中ET-1和MT-2的mRNA和蛋白表达。与正常组相比，模型组诱导哮喘的潜伏期缩短 (P<0.01)；气道阻力 (RL)增加，而动态顺应性(Cdyn)降低 (P<0.01，P<0.05)；血清和BALF中ET-1和TNF-α水平增加 (P<0.01)；支气管周围发现胶原纤维和胶原沉积物，气道平滑肌增厚，细胞损伤严重，线粒体肿胀；ET-1的mRNA和蛋白表达增加，而MT-2的mRNA和蛋白表达降低 (P<0.01)。与模型组相比，针刺组诱导哮喘的潜伏期延长 (P<0.05)，RL降低，Cdyn增加 (P<0.01，P<0.05)。与模型组相比，药物组和针刺组的血清和BALF中ET-1和TNF-α水平降低 (P<0.01，P<0.05)；支气管周围的胶原纤维和胶原沉积物减少，气道平滑肌增厚轻，细胞损伤改善；ET-1的mRNA和蛋白表达降低，而MT-2的mRNA和蛋白表达增加 (P<0.01)。与药物组相比，针刺组的MT-2的mRNA表达增加 (P<0.05)。针刺"孔最"(LU6)和"郁金"(LU10)能够改善哮喘大鼠的肺功能，减轻气道平滑肌痉挛。其机制可能与ET-1表达下调和MT-2表达上调有关。

To observe the effects of acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) on the latent period of inducing asthma, pulmonary function and the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and metallothionein-2 (MT-2) in asthma rats, and to explore the possible mechanism of acupuncture in alleviating airway smooth muscle spasm and improving the acute attack of asthma.A total of 40 male SD rats of SPF-grade were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a medication group and an acupuncture group, 10 rats in each group. Except for the normal group, ovalbumin sensitization method was used to establish the asthma model in the other 3 groups. Salbutamol nebulization was adopted in the medication group, while acupuncture was applied at bilateral "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) in the acupuncture group. The intervention was given once a day for 14 days in the two groups. The latent period of inducing asthma and pulmonary function were observed, the levels of ET-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were detected by ELISA method, the morphology of the airway was observed by Masson staining, the ultrastructure of the airway smooth muscle was observed by transmission electron microscopy, the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 and MT-2 in lung tissue was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot methods.Compared with the normal group, in the model group, the latent period of inducing asthma was shortened (P<0.01); the airway resistance (RL) was increased while the dynamic compliance (Cdyn) was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); the levels of ET-1 and TNF-α in serum and BALF were increased (P<0.01); collagen fibers and collagen depositions were found around the bronchi, airway smooth muscle was thickened, the cell damage was severe and mitochondria were swollen; the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was increased while the mRNA and protein expression of MT-2 was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, in the acupuncture group, the latent period of inducing asthma was prolonged (P<0.05), the RL was decreased while the Cdyn was increased (P<0.01, P<0.05). Compared with the model group, in the medication group and the acupuncture group, the levels of ET-1 and TNF-α in serum and BALF were decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); collagen fibers and collagen depositions around the bronchi were reduced, the thickened airway smooth muscle was lightened, the cell damage was improved; the mRNA and protein expression of ET-1 was decreased while the mRNA and protein expression of MT-2 was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the medication group, the mRNA expression of MT-2 was increased in the acupuncture group (P<0.05).Acupuncture at "Kongzui" (LU 6) and "Yuji" (LU 10) can improve the pulmonary function and alleviate the airway smooth muscle spasm in rats with asthma. Its mechanism may be related to the down-regulation of ET-1 expression and up-regulation of MT-2 expression.