Cardiovascular effects of acupuncture at Tsu San Li (St-36) in dogs

Spinal Cord Injury: How Could Acupuncture Help?

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most common causes of death and disability worldwide, and it can result in both permanent disability and serial complications in patients. Research shows that patients with SCI complications are often interested in acupuncture for symptomatic relief. Therefore, the issue of physicians advising their patients regarding the use of acupuncture to alleviate SCI complications becomes pertinent. We review and summarize two types of relevant publications: (1) literature concerning acupuncture for SCI and its complications and (2) underlying mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for SCI. Clinical trials and reviews have suggested that acupuncture effectively manages a range of post-SCI complications, including motor and sensory dysfunction, pain, neurogenic bowel and bladder, pressure ulcers, spasticity, and osteoporosis. The effect of acupuncture on post-SCI orthostatic hypotension and sexual dysfunction remains unclear. Decreased oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation and neuronal apoptosis, regulation of the expression and activity of endogenous biological mediators, and increased regenerative stem cell production are the possible mechanisms of acupuncture therapy for SCI. Although many limitations have been reported in previous studies, given the evidence for the efficacy of acupuncture, we recommend that physicians should support the use of acupuncture therapy for SCI complications.

Sympathetic effects of manual and electrical acupuncture of the Tsusanli knee point: comparison with the Hoku hand point sympathetic effects

Sympathetic effects of manual and electrical acupuncture of the Tsusanli knee point were evaluated by thermography in 19 normal subjects under the same procedure used in a previous study using the Hoku hand point. A generalized long-lasting warming (sympathetic inhibition) effect was observed under manual and electrical acupuncture of the Tsusanli point. In addition, a segmentally related short-lasting cooling (sympathetic activation) effect occurred with Tsusanli electrical acupuncture only. The warming effect is consistent with the results of the Hoku study and appears to be a central sympathetic inhibition evoked by acupuncture. The cooling effect was segmentally related to the acupuncture site in both studies. This cooling effect most likely reflects a segmental activation of vasomotor spinal reflexes and not a general emotional arousal. These sympathetic mechanisms may be functionally correlated with central and peripheral mechanisms of acupuncture analgesia.

Sympathetic vasomotor changes induced by manual and electrical acupuncture of the Hoku point visualized by thermography

Considerable evidence implicates sympathetic neural activity in acupuncture analgesia. However, the exact nature of these effects has not been specified in detail, and many experimental findings are contradictory. This study evaluated in normal conditions the specific sympathetic effects of both manual and electrical acupuncture applied to the same hand (Hoku) point. Thermographic measures of superficial skin temperature were used to assess sympathetic vasomotor tone in the face, hand and foot of 19 normal subjects. Baseline assessment, manual acupuncture and electrical acupuncture were performed in 3 separate sessions in a well controlled, 23 degrees C environment. Superficial skin temperature decreased slowly in the control condition. Both manual and electrical acupuncture produced a generalized long-lasting warming effect, indicating reduced sympathetic activity (sympatholytic effect). In addition, electrical acupuncture induced a localized short-term cooling effect, indicating a transient segmental increase in sympathetic activity (sympathomimetic effect).

Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide and acupuncture on the cardiovascular system of dogs

The intravenous administration of dimethyl sulfoxide (100 mg/kg) resulted in a significant increase in cardiac output, stroke volume, central venous pressure, and a significant decrease in heart rate. Acupuncture by electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26) produced a significant increase in cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and pulse pressure and a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance in dogs under 0.75% halothane anesthesia. Both DMSO and acupuncture elicit an analgesic effect and enhance cardiovascular function as exemplified by an increase in the cardiac output.

Electro-acupuncture modification of halothane anaesthesia in the dog

The effects of electro-acupuncture on minimum alveolar anaesthetic concentration (MAC) was studied during halothane anaesthesia in the dog. Following induction of anaesthesia, MAC was determined in duplicate. Ten dogs then received electro-acupuncture bilaterally at San Yin Chiao for 30 minutes. MAC was determined in duplicate while electro-acupuncture was continued. Electro-acupuncture significantly lowered MAC from 1.2 per cent to 1.0 per cent (p less than 0.01). A crossover experimental design was used in an additional eleven dogs. Here MAC was lowered from 1.17 per cent to 1.04 per cent (p less than 0.05). Electro-acupuncture produces a small but statistically significant reduction in halothane MAC.

Can naloxone inhibit the cardiovascular effect of acupuncture?

Forty dogs were studied during MAC-1 halothane anesthesia with a chronically implanted electromagnetic flow probe on the ascending aorta. Cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, pulse pressure, central venous pressure and total peripheral resistance were determined in addition to Pao2, pH, Paco2 and base deficit. Acupuncture moxibustion with electrocautery at Jen Chung (Go-26) produced a significant (five per cent level) increase in the cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure and a significant decrease in total peripheral resistance during a 120-minute period of observation in dogs under halothane anaesthesia. Acupuncture moxibustion at Go-26 following pretreatment with the narcotic antagonist naloxone (1 mg.kg-1) produced a significant increase in cardiac output, heart rate, mean arterial pressure. It is concluded that naloxone, which inhibits the analgesic effects of acupuncture, does not inhibit the symphathomimetic effect of acupuncture or moxibustion at Jen Chung (Go-26) in dogs under light MAC-1 halothane anaesthesia.

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).