Can an extract of deer antlers alter cardiovascular dynamics?

Ten (10) dogs were maintained under 0.75% halothane anesthesia while 11 cardiovascular parameters were studied before and following intravenous administration of an extract prepared from deer antlers. The eleven variables including cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2 and base line deficit were studied. Stroke volume was consistently elevated during the period of observation and significantly elevated at two time intervals. Other values were not altered significantly. Extract from deer antlers does not appear to have a great acute effect on the cardiovascular system of this animal model.

Effects of the first (ether) extract of ginseng on the cardiovascular dynamics of dogs during halothane anesthesia

An electromagnetic flowmeter probe was chronically implanted around the ascending aorta in ten dogs. Subsequently, these animals were maintained under halothane (0.75%) anesthesia during the intravenous administration of an ether extract (40 mg/kg) of ginseng. Five other dogs were anesthetized without injecting ginseng. Eleven cardiovascular variables including cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2 and base deficit were compared during the ensuing 120 minutes. The heart rate was significantly decreased and central venous pressure increased significantly following ginseng. There were no other meaningful changes in either group.

Effects of the third (aqueous) extract of ginseng on the cardiovascular dynamics of dogs during halothane anesthesia

An electromagnetic flowmeter probe was chronically implanted around the ascending aorta in a group of dogs. Subsequently, ten dogs were lightly anesthetized with halothane (0.75%) and the third (aqueous) extract of ginseng (40 mg/kg) was administered intravenously. Five dogs were anesthetized without the administration of ginseng. Eleven cardiovascular variables including cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2, and base deficit were compared. The cardiac output, stroke volume, and central venous pressure were decreased significantly, while total peripheral resistance was increased significantly following ginseng.

Effects of the second (ethanol) extract of ginseng on the cardiovascular dynamics of dogs during halothane anesthesia

An electromagnetic flowmeter probe was chronically implanted around the ascending aorta in a group of dogs. Subsequently, ten dogs were lightly anesthetized with halothane (0.75%), and a second (ethanol) extract of ginseng (40 mg/kg) was administered intravenously. Five dogs were anesthetized without the administration of ginseng. Eleven cardiovascular variables including cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2, and base deficit were compared for two hours. The heart rate and mean arterial pressure were significantly decreased following ginseng. There were no other meaningful changes in either group.

Some effects of acupuncture at Jen Chung (Go-26) on cardiovascular dynamics in dogs

The cardiovascular effects of two types of acupuncture, needling with twirling and moxibustion by electrocautery, at Jen Chung (Go-26) were studied in dogs with chronically implanted electromagnetic flowmeter probes, during 0.75% halothane anesthesia with a succinylcholine drip to allow controlled ventilation. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, acid-base and blood gases were measured over a two hour period. During and following moxibustion by electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26) there was a generally significant increase (5% level) in cardiac output and stroke volume and an initially significant increase in heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure. There was a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance following moxibustion by electrocautery and an initially significant decrease in total peripheral resistance following moxibustion by electrocautery and an initially significant decrease in total peripheral resistance following needling with twirling. It was observed in this investigation that moxibustion by electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26) produced more significant changes in cardiovascular dynamics in dogs than needling with twirling.

Cardiovascular effects of atropine on acupuncture, needling with electrostimulation, at Tsu San Li (St-36) in dogs

Acupuncture, needling with electrostimulation, at Tsu San Li (St-36) produced (1) significant decrease in cardiac output, (2) decrease in stroke volume, (3) increase in total peripheral resistance, and (4) minimal changes in heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, and central venous pressure in dogs under halothane anesthesia. Atropine given alone and given before acupuncture at Tsu San Li (St-36) produced (1) early significant increase in cardiac output, (2) early significant increase in heart rate, (3) increase in mean arterial pressure, (4) decrease in total peripheral resistance, and (5) minimal changes in stroke volume, pulse pressure, and central venous pressure in anesthetized dogs. It was concluded that the effects of acupuncture at Tsu San Li (St-36) were parasympathomimetic-like and that these effects could be blocked by atropine, a parasympatholytic drug.

Effects of autonomic drugs on the cardiovascular system: dogs with achalasia (under halothane anesthesia)

The parasympathetic and sympathetic components of the autonomic systems as they relate to cardiovascular function were studied on dogs with achalasia of the esophagus. This was accomplished by administering the parasympathomimetic drugs methacholine (0.2 mg/kg, subcutaneously), 2 doexy-D-glucose (100 mg/kg, intravenously (IV), the parasympatholytic drug atropine (0.2 mg/kg, IV), the sympathomimetic agent epinephrine (2.5 microng/kg, IV), and the beta adrenergic blocker propranolol (0.5 mg/kg, IV); and then measuring cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, PaCO2, PaO2, pH, and base deficit. Cardiovascular responses to the administration of the parasympathomimetic drugs, methacholine and 2 deoxy-D-glucose, or the parasympatholytic drug, atropine, were similar to those observed in normal dogs. Cardiovascular responses to the administration of the sympathomimetic drug epinephrine and the sympatholytic drug propranolol or beta blocker were also consistent with those observed in normal dogs. It can be interpreted from this pharmacologic evidence that parasympathetic and sympathetic innervations to the cardiovascular system are present in dogs with achalasia of the esophagus. Fewer cardiovascular variables were significantly altered in dogs with achalasia than in normal dogs. Since this was true for both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic values, it is interpreted as reflecting their general health rather than a specific lesion.

Inhibition of the cardiovascular effects of acupuncture (moxibustion) by propranolol in dogs during halothane anaesthesia

Acupuncture by electrocautery, moxibustion, at Jen Chung (Go-26) acupoint produces a sympathomimetic effect on the cardiovascular system of dogs under halothane anaesthesia (MAC I). This effect is manifest by significant increase in cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure while total peripheral resistance is significantly decreased during a two-hour period of observation. Pretreatment with the beta blocker, propranolol, caused a significant decrease in cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure while total peripheral resistance is significantly increased. Similar responses were observed when propranolol was administered without moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26).

Modification of cardiovascular function in dogs by acupuncture: a review

Acupuncture at Jen Chung (Go-26) in dogs under halothane anesthesia produces sympathomimetic-like effects on the cardiovascular system. This response can be inhibited by pretreatment with propranolol and to a lesser extent with phentolamine. Severe hypotension and cardiac arrest produced by hypoxia in dogs under halothane anesthesia can be reversed by acupuncture at Jen Ying (St-9). This also was interpreted as a sympathomimetic-like effect. Acupuncture at Tsu San Li (St-36) results in a parasympathomimetic-like effect on the cardiovascular system which can be inhibited by atropine. A parasympatholytic-like effect resembling that produced by atropine can be obtained in dogs with sinus arrhythmia and pulsus alternans by acupuncture at Yang Hsi (LI-5).

Inhibition of the cardiovascular effects of acupuncture (moxibustion) by phentolamine in dogs during halothane anesthesia

The cardiovascular effects of acupuncture, moxibustion by electrocautery, at Jen Chung (Go-26) and phentolamine (0.1 mg/kg-i.v.) alone were compared to phentolamine (0.1 mg/kg-i.v.) prior to moxibustion at Go-26 in groups of ten dogs under 0.75 percent halothane anesthesia. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2 and base deficit were measured over a two hour period. A significant increase (5% level) in cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure and a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance were observed following acupuncture, moxibustion with electrocautery, at Jen Chung (Go-26) in dogs under halothane anesthesia. These effects were inhibited by pretreatment with the alpha blocking agent, phentolamine (0.1 mg/kg-i.v.). The cardiovascular effects of phentolamine (0.1 mg/kg-i.v.) alone were similar to those of dogs in which phentolamine was administered prior to moxibustion.

Cardiovascular effects of moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) during halothane anesthesia in dogs

The cardiovascular effects of moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) in 10 dogs under halothane anesthesia were compared to 5 dogs under halothane anesthesia without moxibustion and 5 dogs under halothane anesthesia in which moxibustion was effected at a neutral or non-acupuncture site. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, central venous pressure, total peripheral resistance, pH, PaCO2, PaO2 and base deficit were measured over a two-hour period. A significant increase in cardiac output and stroke volume and a significant decrease in the total peripheral resistance were observed in the group which was stimulated by moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26). Heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure were significantly increased during the early part of the two-hour period in the same group. The cardiovascular effects of moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) which were observed at the end of two hours were also present in two dogs in which measurements were continued for two additional hours.

Cardiovascular effects of acupuncture in anesthetized dogs

Spontaneous sinus arrhythmia (two dogs), pulsus alternans (three dogs), and pulsus alternans followed by sinus arrhythmia (one dog) were corrected by digital pressure or acupuncture at Yang Hsi (LI-5) locus while these animals were under halothane (MAC I) anesthesia. This locus which is used to treat cardiac arrhythmias is located on the medial side of the carpus. EKG, aortic flow, exhausted CO 2, aortic pressure and stroke volume were recorded continuously prior to, during, and following digital pressure or acupuncture.

Cardiac arrest was produced by exposing two dogs to 1% halothane anesthesia in 6% oxygen, 10% carbon dioxide and 83% nitrogen. The animals recovered from cardiac arrest following acupuncture at the left Jen Ying (St-9) locus and changing from 1% halothane in the hypoxic mixture to 1% halothane in room air. Acupuncture without change from the hypoxic mixture to room air (two dogs) did not result in recovery. The Jen Ying (St-9) locus is found at the bifurcation of the carotid artery.

Seven loci, Jen Chung (Go-26), Jen Ying (St-9), Tsu San Li (St-36), Chü Ch'ih (LI-11), Nei Kuan (EH-6), Yung Ch'üan (Ki-1), Yang Hsi (LI-5) were examined for sympathomimetic cardiovascular responses to acupuncture in twelve halothane (MAC I) anesthetized dogs. A good response (+++) was recorded at the Jen Chung (Go-26) locus, a moderate response (++) at the Jen Ying (St-9) locus, poor response (+) at Tsu San Li (St-36), Chü Ch'ih (LI-11) and Yung Ch'üan (Ki-1) loci and no response (-) at the remaining two loci, Nei Kuan (EH-6) and Yang Hsi (LI-5).