Abstract
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) are widely used to treat a variety of diseases including pain. In preclinical research, EA is usually applied by inserting acupuncture needles into the hindlimbs of rats restrained in small tubes or bags. This restrained model of EA not only causes stress-like behaviors but also is limited in stimulating locations and intensities. In 2004, a novel, unrestrained model of EA was introduced. However, these two EA methods have never been directly compared regarding their analgesic effects and other features such as stress. In the present study, we reported similar analgesic effects between restrained and unrestrained EA in rats of acute inflammatory pain induced by intraplantar injection of CFA. In addition, rats receiving unrestrained EA showed less significant stress-like behaviors and tolerated higher current intensity. These advantages suggest that this unrestrained EA method can replace the traditional restrained procedure with similar analgesic effects and allow for more choices of stimulating intensities and locations.
Highlights
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively treat a variety of diseases such as pain and nausea
In the traditional EA model, conscious rodents are restrained in small tubes or bags, with acupuncture needles inserted into their hindlimbs [1, 2]
This restrained EA method had been suggested to cause stress [1], and its analgesic effects might hardly be differentiated from stress-induced analgesia (SIA) [3]
Summary
Acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) can effectively treat a variety of diseases such as pain and nausea. In the traditional EA model, conscious rodents are restrained in small tubes or bags, with acupuncture needles inserted into their hindlimbs [1, 2]. This restrained EA method had been suggested to cause stress [1], and its analgesic effects might hardly be differentiated from stress-induced analgesia (SIA) [3]. In 2004, Lao et al [12] introduced a novel, unrestrained method of EA stimulation This model does not require restraining tubes or bags and allows for more choices of acupoints, for example, those on the back.
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