Effects of Manual Acupuncture with Sparrow Pecking on Muscle Blood Flow of Normal and Denervated Hindlimb in Rats

Abstract

Introduction In clinical practice, it has been thought that acupuncture might serve to wash out pain-generating metabolic end-products by improving blood circulation in muscles. We investigated the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) on muscle blood flow (MBF) of normal and denervated hindlimbs in rats. Method Sprague-Dawley rats (n=100) anaesthetised with urethane (1.2g/kg ip) were used. Manual acupuncture with sparrow pecking (SP) at different doses (1, 10 or 30 pecks) was given to the right ventral hindlimb muscles (tibial anterior and extensor digitorum longus muscles) or the right dorsal hindlimb muscles (gastrocnemius, plantaris and soleus muscles). MBF with or without MA was measured using the radiolabelled microsphere technique. The blood pressure was recorded through the right common carotid artery until MBF measurement started. Denervation of hindlimb was conducted by cutting the sciatic and femoral nerves. Results In normal rats, significantly increased MBF after MA were observed only in muscles which were penetrated by an acupuncture needle. The size of the increase depended on the number of times of pecking and seemed to be sustained at least until 60 minutes after MA. However, the increase was observed after both acute and chronic denervation. On the other hand, the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) did not change significantly before, during or after MA. Conclusion These results suggest that MA could increase muscle blood flow locally in a dose-dependent manner and that this increase may be caused by local vasodilators, as well as the axon reflex. A further study is needed to elucidate the mechanism.

Contributions of Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandins to the Local Increase in Muscle Blood Flow following Manual Acupuncture in Rats

“…However, the increase continues for at least 1 h after MA. 9 Because the present study estimated the MBF at 3 min after MA (early phase), it is possible that PGs are involved in the increase after the early phase. On the other hand, the following systems are independent of NO or PG: (1) several vasodilators such as CGRP, ATP, ADP and adenosine, which directly bind to their respective receptors on vascular smooth muscle cells; and (2) endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factors (EDHF), which are proposed to be potassium ions (K + ), cytochrome P450 metabolites, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) or gap junctions between endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells (myoendothelium gap junction).…”

“…However, denervation caused by cutting the sciatic nerve, 9 destruction of the thin sensory nerves caused by capsaicin 7 and topical application of hCGRP [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27] (a CGRP receptor antagonist) 7 did not completely suppress the MA-induced increase in MBF, suggesting that other vasodilators contribute to this effect. A recent report showed that application of MA using the rotating needle technique locally raised the extracellular concentration of ATP, ADP, AMP or adenosine in mice 3 and humans.…”

Dry needling: a literature review with implications for clinical practice guidelines

“…Several recent studies 7,158,161,164,[169][170][171] support the use of dry needling in the management of tendinopathy; more specifically, dry needling has been shown to positively influence tendon healing by increasing blood flow via local vasodilation 161,163,164,169 and collagen proliferation. 158,170 It is theorized that the lack of blood flow and subsequent hypoxic environment contributes to 'tendon dysrepair' 172 and leads to the pain and disability associated with chronic tendinopathy.…”

Participation of Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide Released via Axon Reflex in the Local Increase in Muscle Blood Flow following Manual Acupuncture

“…In our previous studies using radiolabelled microspheres, we have shown that MA significantly increased local MBF in rats. [11][12][13] This increase was observed immediately after denervation, suggesting the possibility of axon reflex participation in the increase. 11 However, the increase was also observed after chronic denervation, although it seemed to be attenuated by it.…”

“…[11][12][13] This increase was observed immediately after denervation, suggesting the possibility of axon reflex participation in the increase. 11 However, the increase was also observed after chronic denervation, although it seemed to be attenuated by it. Thus, in our previous study, it was unclear whether axon reflex participated in the increase or not.…”