Role of peripheral afferent nerve fiber in acupuncture analgesia elicited by needling point zusanli.
Needling acupuncture point zusanli shows a significant suppressive effect characterized by the response of jaw movement. The afferent analgesic impulses arising from the point zusanli for producing this effect are transmitted largely by A beta gamma fibers in the peroneal nerve. Sufficient amount of A beta gamma fibers brought in to action is an important factor in achieving this prominent analgesic effect. The inhibitory action of the large fibers, such as A beta gamma, mediating analgesic impulses upon the small fibers such as A delta and C, carrying painful impulses, seems to be one of the component parts of the mechanism of acupuncture analgesia.
D000200:Action Potentials; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000698:Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000503:physiopathology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000502:physiology*; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D009435:Synaptic Transmission