Different central manifestations in response to electroacupuncture at analgesic and nonanalgesic acupoints in rats: a manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging study

Acupuncture analgesia is an important issue in veterinary medicine. This study was designed to elucidate central modulation effects in response to electroacupuncture (EA) at different acupoints. Manganese-enhanced functional magnetic resonance imaging was performed in Sprague-Dawley rats after sham acupuncture, sham EA, or true EA at somatic acupoints. The acupoints were divided into 3 groups: group 1, analgesic acupoints commonly used for pain relief, such as Hegu (LI 4); group 2, nonanalgesic acupoints rarely used for analgesic effect, such as Neiguan (PC 6); and group 3, acupoints occasionally used for analgesia, such as Zusanli (ST 36). Image acquisition was performed on a 1.5-T superconductive clinical scanner with a circular polarized extremity coil. The results showed that there was no neural activation caused by EA at a true acupoint with shallow needling and no electric current (sham acupuncture). When EA at a true acupoint was applied with true needling but no electric current (sham EA), there was only a slight increase in brain activity at the hypothalamus; when EA was applied at a true acupoint with true needling and an electric current (true EA), the primary response at the hypothalamus was enhanced. Also, there was a tendency for the early activation of pain-modulation areas to be prominent after EA at analgesic acupoints as compared with nonanalgesic acupoints. In conclusion, understanding the linkage between peripheral acupoint stimulation and central neural pathways provides not only an evidence-based approach for veterinary acupuncture but also a useful guide for clinical applications of acupuncture.     

Acupuncture treatment for idiopathic Horner's syndrome in a dog

A one-year-old female English Cocker Spaniel dog with idiopathic Horner''s Syndrome is described. The specific clinical signs in this specimen were miosis, ptosis, enophthalmos, and prolapsed nictitans for 2 days following sudden onset. According to history taking, ophthalmic, neurological, and radiological examination, the patient was diagnosed with idiopathic Horner''s syndrome. Manual acupuncture treatment was applied to the dog on local points two times in 2 days. The local acupoints were ST-4 (Di Chang) and GB-1 (Tong Zi Liao). The day after the initial acupuncture treatment, clinical signs related to idiopathic Horner''s syndrome had almost disappeared. The day after the second treatment, specific clinical signs were completely absent. During this period, the dog did not receive any orthodox treatment. Thus, it is suggested that manual acupuncture might be an effective therapy for idiopathic Horner''s syndrome.     

Effect of electroacupuncture on minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs

The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane was evaluated in dogs. After determination of baseline MAC, EA was applied at each acupoints (LI-4, SP-6, ST-36 and TH-8) and nonacupoint for 30 min. MAC was determined again. EA at acupoints significantly lowered the MAC of isoflurane in dogs (17.5 +/- 3.1%, 21.3 +/- 8.0%, 21.2 +/- 7.5% and 15.4 +/- 3.1%, respectively). In control group and nonacupoint electrical stimulation group MAC were not decreased significantly. From these results, electroacupuncture at each acupoints used in the present study would have an advantage in isoflurane anesthesia with reducing its requirement.     

Effects of electroacupuncture on intraocular pressure and hemodynamic parameters in isoflurane anesthetized dogs

The effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on intraocular pressure (IOP) and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated in isoflurane anesthetized 10 (5 males, 5 females) normal mongrel dogs (8.1-9.8 kg, 6-8 years old). After determination of baseline IOP and hemodynamic parameters (cardiac index, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, heart rate and systemic vascular resistance index), EA was applied at 3 acupoints (LI-4, LIV-3 and GB-37) for 20 min. After the EA treatment, IOP was significantly decreased in the both eyes (p<0.05). However, there were not significant differences in hemodynamic parameters between those of before and after EA treatment. From these results, the EA treatment at LI-4, LIV-3 and GB-37 would be considered one of the valuable methods for the IOP treatment in dogs.     

Influence of electro-acupuncture on pain threshold in horses and its mode of action

Electro-acupuncture (EA) treatments varied in their effect on pain threshold in horses. EA stimulation using local acupuncture points or/and high frequency (80–120 Hz) can be more effective to relieve the experimental pain than the use of distal points and/or low frequency (20 Hz). The acupoints close to the painful areas may need to be stimulated with high frequency EA while the acupoints far from the painful areas may be stimulated with low frequency EA. The release of β-endorphin may be one of the pathways in which electro-acupuncture relieves the experimental pain.     

后海、后三里、大肠俞对大鼠便秘及胃肠运动神经递质的影响

后海（GV-1）、后三里（ST-36）、大肠俞（BL-25）是治疗动物便秘的常用穴位,本文旨在明确3个穴位对大鼠便秘的缓解作用及其对胃肠运动相关神经递质的调节作用,比较3个穴位作用途径的异同,探索便秘的优势穴位。选取SPF健康大鼠60只,随机分为6组。除对照A组外,其他5组大鼠每只每天灌服3 mg·（kg·d）^-1洛哌丁胺,建立便秘模型。5 d后,在便秘模型基础上,西药治疗C组灌服莫沙必利1.38 mg·（kg·d）^-1混悬液,D、E、F组分别针刺GV-1、ST-36、BL-25各30 min,连续6 d。检测血清5-羟色胺（5-HT）、生长抑素（SS）、血管活性肠肽（VIP）、P物质（SP）,结肠组织中5-羟色胺3受体（5-HT₃R）mRNA、5-羟色胺4受体（5-HT₄R）mRNA相对表达量及结肠组织结构。结果显示：造模5 d后,模型B组大鼠出现典型便秘症状,血清中5-HT、SS含量显著增加,VIP、SP显著下降,结肠组织5-HT₃R和5-HT₄R mRNA显著降低。西药治疗组和3个穴位组大鼠的便秘症状均显著缓解,首粒粪便时间缩短,粪便含水量增加,粪便长度增加。另外,针刺GV-1使血清中SS含量极显著降低36.34%（P<0.01）,5-HT含量显著下降。针刺双侧ST-36下调血清中5-HT含量23.93%,显著增加结肠组织5-HT₃R、5-HT₄R mRNA相对表达量（P<0.01）。针刺双侧BL-25,血清中VIP、SP含量分别提高27.48%、22.75%,显著降低5-HT含量。另外针刺3个穴位均可增加结肠杯状细胞表达。GV-1、ST-36、BL-25缓解便秘的途径有一定差异,但均能缓解大鼠便秘,改善胃肠道运动,调节胃肠道神经递质的含量,其中GV-1对便秘的改善作用最为显著。     

Effect of acupuncture on intraocular pressure in normal dogs

The effect of acupuncture on intraocular pressure (IOP) was evaluated in normal dogs. After determination of baseline pressure, acupuncture was applied at 3 acupoints (LI-4, LIV-3 and GB-37) for 20 min. After acupuncture treatment, IOP were significantly lowered 2.7 +/- 0.1 in left eye, 1.7 +/- 0.7 in right eye, respectively (p<0.05). From these results of this study, an acupuncture therapy may be valuable treatment for decreasing on IOP in dogs.     

A proposed transpositional acupoint system in a mouse and rat model

In acupuncture, the specificity of the point and the reproducibility of the location of the point are prerequisite to the specificity and reproducibility of research involving acupuncture stimulation. The transpositional method, which locates animal acupoints (AAs) on the surface of animal skin corresponding to the anatomic site of a human acupoint, has been generally adopted for research modeling. However, there remains a lack of consensus on the specific location of AA among researchers. The potential problems that the discrepancy in acupoint locating methods causes include the attempt to compare research results. This report is a conceptual study that calls attention to the problems of inconsistency in AA location, and proposes a transpositional 121 AA system in a mouse and rat model. Further discussion, and the establishment of reproducible transpositional AA systems, will prompt further quantitative research and exchange of scientific ideas.     

Cutaneous analgesia,hemodynamic and respiratory effects,and beta-endorphin concentration in spinal fluid and plasma of horses after acupuncture and electroacupuncture

OBJECTIVE: To determine cutaneous analgesia, hemodynamic and respiratory effects, and beta-endorphin concentration in spinal fluid and plasma of horses after acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA). ANIMALS: 8 healthy 10- to 20-year-old mares that weighed between 470 and 600 kg. PROCEDURE: Each horse received 2 hours of acupuncture and 2 hours of PAES at acupoints Bladder 18, 23, 25, and 28 on both sides of the vertebral column as well as sham needle placement (control treatment). Each treatment was administered in a random order. At least 7 days elapsed between treatments. Nociceptive cutaneous pain threshold was measured by use of skin twitch reflex latency (STRL) and avoidance to radiant heat (< or = 50 degrees C) in the lumbar area. Skin temperature, cardiovascular and respiratory variables, and beta-endorphin concentration in spinal fluid (CSF-EN) and plasma (plasma-EN) were measured. RESULTS: Acupuncture and PAES significantly increased STRL and skin temperature. The CSF-EN was significantly increased from baseline values 30 to 120 minutes after onset of PAES, but it did not change after acupuncture and control treatments. Heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, arterial blood pressure, Hct, total solids and bicarbonate concentrations, base excess, plasma-EN, and results of blood gas analyses were not significantly different from baseline values after acupuncture, PAES, and control treatments. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of PAES was more effective than acupuncture for activating the spinal cord to release beta-endorphins into the CSF of horses. Acupuncture and PAES provided cutaneous analgesia in horses without adverse cardiovascular and respiratory effects.     

Electroacupuncture analgesia in dogs: is there a difference between uni- and bi-lateral stimulation?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the analgesic effect of uni- and bi-lateral electroacupuncture (EA) in response to thermal and mechanical nociceptive stimuli and to investigate the cardiorespiratory, endocrine, and behavioral changes in dogs submitted to EA. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized cross-over experimental study. ANIMALS: Eight adult, clinically healthy, cross-breed dogs, weighing 13 +/- 4 kg. METHODS: Dogs underwent electrostimulation at false acupoints (T-false); bilateral EA at acupoints, stomach 36, gall bladder 34 and spleen 6 (T-EA/bil); unilateral EA at the same points (T-EA/uni) or were untreated (T-control). All animals received acepromazine (0.05 mg kg(-1)) IV; and heart rate, pulse oximetry, indirect arterial blood pressure, respiratory rate, Pe'CO(2), rectal temperature, and plasma cortisol concentration were measured before, during, and after EA. Analgesia was tested using thoracic and abdominal cutaneous thermal and mechanical stimuli, and an interdigital thermal stimulus. Behavior was classified as calm or restless. Analysis of variance for repeated measures followed by Tukey's test was used for analysis of the data. RESULTS: There were no cardiorespiratory differences among the treatments. The cutaneous pain threshold was higher after EA, compared with false points. The latency period was shorter and analgesia was more intense in T-EA/bil than T-EA/uni, when both were compared with T-false and T-control. Six out of eight animals treated with EA were calm during treatment, and 5/8 and 4/8 of the T-false and T-control animals, respectively, were restless. Latency to interdigital thermal stimulation increased in T-EA/bil compared with the others. There was no difference in plasma cortisol concentrations among the treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral EA produced a shorter latency period, a greater intensity, and longer duration of analgesia than unilateral stimulation, without stimulating a stress response. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Bilateral EA produces a better analgesic effect than unilateral EA.     

穴位注射在犬病临床上的应用

穴位注射是针刺和药物结合、中医与西医相结合的一种新型疗法.在穴位注射药液,通过针刺及药物对穴位的双重作用来调整机体的机能和改变病理状态,从而达到治疗疾病的目的.在犬病临床上多用于治疗常见病、多发病和少数传染病等多种疾病.该法操作简单,用药量少,疗效显著.论文根据临床实践对穴位注射疗法的作用机理、操作方法和临床相关病例的治疗情况进行了概述.     

Equine acupuncture methods and applications: A review

This review discusses the applications of acupuncture (AP) and its eastern medical philosophy in equine health, and the main techniques used to stimulate acupoints in equine practice. These methods include dry needling, electroacupuncture (EA), moxibustion, laser therapy, haemopuncture, aquapuncture, pharmacopuncture, acupressure and gold implants.     

Acupoint stimulation using bee venom attenuates formalin-induced pain behavior and spinal cord fos expression in rats

In two previous reports, we have demonstrated that injection of bee venom (BV) into an acupoint produces a significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effect in both a mouse model of visceral nociception and a rat model of chronic arthritis. The present study was designed to evaluate the potential antinociceptive effect of BV pretreatment on formalin-induced pain behavior and it associated spinal cord Fos expression in rats. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with BV directly into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint or into an arbitrary non-acupoint located on the back. BV pretreatment into the Zusanli acupoint significantly decreased paw-licking time in the late phase of the formalin test. In contrast, BV injected into a non-acupoint in the back region did not suppress the paw-licking time. In addition, BV pretreatment into the Zusanli acupoint markedly inhibited spinal cord Fos expression induced by formalin injection. These findings indicate that BV pretreatment into the Zusanli acupoint has an antinociceptive effect on formalin-induced pain behavior.     

Histopathologic alterations induced in the lungs of sheep by use of alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists

OBJECTIVE: To study effects of central- and peripheral-acting alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonists on lung parenchyma, platelets, and pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIM) of sheep. ANIMALS: 12 healthy mature female sheep. PROCEDURE: Group-1 (control, n = 2) sheep received 5 ml of physiologic saline solution IV and were euthanatized 3 minutes later. Sheep of group 2 (n = 8) received xylazine (150 microg/kg of body weight, IV), then 2 sheep each were euthanatized 3, 10, or 60 minutes, or 12 hours later. Sheep (n = 2) of group 3 were given ST-91 (30 microg/kg, IV), then were euthanatized 3 minutes later. Immediately after euthanasia, the lungs were fixed intratracheally and tissue was obtained for light and electron microscopy after 1 hour. RESULTS: Pulmonary parenchymal damage or morphologic alterations in PIM and platelets were not evident in control sheep. Three minutes after xylazine administration, morphologic changes in PIM were appreciable. After 10 minutes, extensive damage to the capillary endothelium and alveolar type-I cells, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and interstitial and alveolar edema were evident. Most PIM had complete internalization of the surface coat. Similar changes were seen 60 minutes after xylazine administration; however, by 12 hours, morphologic features of PIM and lung parenchyma were almost completely restored. Evidence of PIM activation, obvious damage to capillary endothelium, and extensive pulmonary edema also were evident 3 minutes after ST-91 administration. CONCLUSIONS: XYLAZINE induces severe pulmonary parenchymal damage when administered at clinical sedative doses in sheep; morphologic changes in PIM within 3 minutes after administration of these drugs are substantial; and platelet aggregation is not apparent.     

Thermographic evaluation for the efficacy of acupuncture on induced chronic arthritis in the dog

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture on induced chronic arthritis of the dog by thermography. Complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the left knee joint of 8 dogs to induce arthritis. Acupuncture was applied to BL-40, GB-33, GB-34, and LIV-8 once a week for 4 consecutive weeks, from 3 weeks after induction of chronic arthritis, in treatment group. At 3 weeks of acupuncture treatment, skin temperature difference (DeltaT) of treatment group returned to normal range (< 0.3 degrees C), while DeltaT remained high in non-treatment group. Infrared thermography (IRT) is useful to evaluate the treatment of acupuncture for induced canine chronic arthritis. Therefore, it is considered that clinical application of IRT in arthritis treatment would be also valuable.     

Comparisons of the effects of acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and transcutaneous cranial electrical stimulation on the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of acupuncture (AP), electroacupuncture (EA), and transcutaneous cranial electrical stimulation (TCES) with high-frequency intermittent currents on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane and associated cardiovascular variables in dogs. ANIMALS: 8 healthy adult female Beagles. PROCEDURE: Each dog was anesthetized with isoflurane on 4 occasions, allowing a minimum of 10 days between experiments. Isoflurane MAC values were determined for each dog without treatment (controls) and after treatment with AP and EA (AP points included the Large Intestine 4, Lung 7, Governing Vessel 20, Governing Vessel 14, San Tai, and Baihui) and TCES. Isoflurane MAC values were determined by use of noxious electrical buccal stimulation. Heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), arterial blood oxygen saturation (Spo2) measured by use of pulse oximetry, esophageal body temperature, inspired and expired end-tidal isoflurane concentrations, end-tidal carbon dioxide concentration, and bispectral index (BIS) were monitored. Blood samples were collected for determination of plasma cortisol concentration. RESULTS: Mean +/- SD baseline MAC of isoflurane was 1.19 +/- 0.1%. Acupuncture did not significantly change MAC of isoflurane. Treatments with EA and TCES significantly lowered the MAC of isoflurane by 10.1% and 13.4%, respectively. The Spo2, heart rate, MAP, BIS, esophageal body temperature, and plasma cortisol concentration were not significantly different after AP, EA, TCES, and control treatments at any time interval. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of EA and TCES decreased MAC of isoflurane in dogs without inducing adverse hemodynamic effects. However, the reduction in isoflurane MAC by EA andTCES treatments was not considered clinically relevant.     

Electroacupuncture at the Zusanli and Baihui acupoints ameliorates type-2 diabetes-induced reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with increasing brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels

In the current study, we investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA) can inhibit pathological reductions in neurogenesis. Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats at 7 weeks of age were anesthetized with zoletil, and sham-acupuncture or EA at the Zusanli (ST36) and Baihui (GV20) acupoints was administered once a day for 5 weeks. In the ZDF group that received sham-EA (ZDF-Sham group), the blood glucose level was significantly increased together with age as compared to the control littermates [Zucker lean control (ZLC) rat]. In contrast, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly decreased in the ZDF-Sham group compared to the ZLC group. Although EA treatment decreased blood glucose levels, this was not statistically significant when compared to blood glucose levels changes in the ZDF-Sham group. However, proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts were significantly increased with EA in ZDF rats as compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels were significantly decreased in hippocampal homogenates of ZDF-Sham group compared to those in the ZLC group. The EA treatment significantly increased the BDNF levels compared to those in the ZDF-Sham group, and BDNF levels in this group were similar to those in the ZLC group. These results suggest that EA at ST36 and GV20 can ameliorate the reductions in proliferating cells and differentiated neuroblasts in the dentate gyrus induced by type-2 diabetes without significantly reducing blood glucose levels with increasing BDNF levels.     

Laser acupuncture for acute inflammatory, visceral and neuropathic pain relief: An experimental study in the laboratory rat

Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, non-thermal laser irradiation. We explored the clinical efficacy of a very low level diode laser wavelength 670 nm (Biolite LP020, RGM, Genoa, Italy), used to stimulate acupoints ST36 Zu San Li and TH5 Waiguan, on well-established experimental models of acute and persistent pain in the rat, e.g. acute inflammatory pain, muscle pain, visceral pain and neuropathic pain. We report the anti-edema and anti-hyperalgesia effects of laser acupuncture in models of acute inflammatory pain, e.g. CFA-induced inflammation and myofascial pain. We also indicate that spontaneous pain and thermal hyperalgesia are reduced in a neuropathic pain model, e.g. axotomy. On the contrary, no effects due to laser-acupuncture were observed on disconfort indices in a model of visceral pain, e.g. cystitis due to cyclophosphamide. We thus provide evidences that acupoints stimulation using a very low intensity laser irradiation can control pain and edema in specific experimental conditions.     

经络穴位给药系统在兽医临床上的应用

经络穴位给药系统以中医经络理论为基础,具有经穴效应和药物效应的双重治疗特性,已广泛应用于兽医临床.目前,兽医临床上常用穴位给药方式是穴位埋植和穴位注射,而常用穴位主要是后海穴、百会穴、肺龠穴.随着经络穴位给药系统的广泛应用,新型经络穴位给药制剂和经络穴位给药作用机理已成为经络穴位给药系统研究的重点.     

Effects of Atipamezole and Naloxone on Electroencephalographic Spectral Edge Frequency 95 in Dogs Sedated by Acupuncture at GV20 and Yintang Point

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antagonism of acupuncture-induced sedation by electroencephalographic spectral edge frequency (SEF) 95 in 10 healthy intact male Miniature Schnauzer dogs (4.2-6.1kg; 2-3 years old) without neurological disorder. The GV20 and Yintang acupoints were administered for 20 min. While the dogs were conscious, SEF 95 baseline values were recorded at 2-min intervals for 4 min. Then acupuncture was administered at the GV20 and Yintang acupoints. During the acupuncture procedure, the SEF 95 values were recorded at 2-min intervals for 10 min. Subsequently, antagonist drugs, naloxone and atipamezole, were administered through the cephalic vein. The SEF 95 values were then measured again at 2-min intervals for 10 min. Those values were found to be significantly increased after administration of atipamezole in dogs sedated by acupuncture at the GV20 and Yintang acupoints (p<0.05). However, the SEF 95 values in the naloxone groups did not show any significant changes before and after administration of the antagonist. It was concluded that sedation induced by acupuncture at the GV20 and Yintang acupoints might be partially associated with the alpha(2)-adrenergic system.