Light microscopic morphology of low resistance skin points in the guinea pig.

This study compares the light microscopic structure of low resistance skin points (LRSP) to high resistance skin points (HRSP) of the guinea pig, Previously, LRSP have been shown to coincide with acupuncture loci. Epidermal nuclei and dermal nuclei were counted at both LRSP and at control points or HRSP. In addition, hair follicles, blood vessels, and sebaceous nuclei were likewise quantitated. This data, collected in a blind manner, was then subjected to statistical analysis using a nested analysis of variance and a Student's "t" test. The former test indicated an increase in density of hair follicles at LRSP, while both demonstrated a decrease in dermal nuclei at LRSP. An interesting finding is that the epidermis at both LRSP and HRSP is indistinguishable at the light microscopic level. This was indicated by both statistical procedures. Finding of a Haarscheibe, an aggregation of Merkel cell-neurite complexes, only at HRSP tends to preclude its role as an acupuncture neurotransducer. Finally, there appeared to be no obvious qualitative differences between LRSP and HRSP observable at the light microscopic level.