The Antinociceptive Effect of Acupressure in Rats

• DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x05002746
• Publication Date: 2005-03-31T12:25:00Z
• Authors: John F. Trentini; B. Thompson; Joseph S. Erlichman
• Keywords: Acupressure; Acupuncture point

Acupuncture and acupressure points correlate well with sites on the body that have low transcutaneous electrical resistance (TER). Using lightly sedated, adult Sprague-Dawley rats, we identified an acupoint (i.e. site TER) located hind limb of rat compared effects at this nociceptive threshold to adjacent, non-acupoint high TER). Focal pressure (55.42±2.2 g) was applied for 10 minutes tail flick response (TFR) determined by draping distal portion over a heated wire (75±5°C). Three trials were performed during each three randomized conditions acupoint, placebo control) averaged. All rats tested (5/5) showed statistically significant increase in TFR following or control (p=0.007). Acupressure point resulted not different from control. Systemic administration naloxone completely abolished tail-flick inhibition induced acupoint. These data suggest elicits antinociceptive effect is mediated endogenous release opioids.