Suppression of polysynaptic reflex by electro-acupuncture and a possible underlying presynaptic mechanism in the spinal cord of the cat

Samuel H.H. Chan*, Simon J. Fung

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal Article peer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Experiments were conducted on precollicular decerebrate cats to study the effects of electro-acupuncture on cutaneous polysynaptic reflexes and the underlying synaptic mechanism in the spinal cord. Acupuncture, delivered in trains of biphasic sine, sawtooth or triangular pulses to the tsusanli point in the hindlimb produced a total suppression of cutaneous polysynaptic reflexes during the initial 100-200 msec after electro-acupuncture, to be followed by a persistent subtotal inhibition for over 800 msec. Dorsal root potentials were also evoked by electro-acupuncture, with the development of negativity comparable in time to the total suppression of cutaneous polysynaptic reflexes. Stimulating regions 0.5 mm deviated from the acupuncture point horizontally or vertically resulted in negligible effects on or potentiation of cutaneous polysynaptic reflexes. Moreover, intramuscular anesthetization near the tip of the acupuncture needle diminished the analgesic effects of electro-acupuncture. The possibility was discussed that acupuncture stimulation could have activated some yet to be defined "receptors" in the deep muscle layers of the acupuncture point, resultant in the presynaptic modulation of "pain" impulses in the spinal cord.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)336-342
Number of pages7
JournalExperimental Neurology
Volume48
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 08 1975
Externally publishedYes

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