title: Electroacupuncture and laser stimulation treatment: evaluated by somatosensory evoked potential in conscious rabbits.
abstract: Tooth pulp generated somatosensory evoked potential (TPSEP) recordings were used to evaluate analgesic responses to Electroacupuncture (EA) and laser stimulation (Ls) treatments in Dutch-hybrid male rabbits. TPSEP recorded 100 trials at 30 minute intervals for 120 minutes. Three groups, EA, Ls and control were analyzed. The EA group received intermittent 4 Hz, intensity 2-10 volts electro-stimulation for twenty minutes. In the Ls group, a gallium aluminium arsenide (GaAlAs) laser diode with wavelength 780 nm, switched pulse frequency 9720 Hz, energy density 0.6 J/point was employed. Both EA and Ls groups received stimulation of the points Ho-ku (LI-4) and Tzu-San-Li (ST-36). Results showed tooth pulp generated noxious stimulation produced a consistent late near-field SEP waveform, which is similar to those recorded in humans and correlated to the sensation of pains, thus confirming that tooth pulp stimulation is a reliable dolormetric index. EA and Ls TPSEP recordings showed decreased peak-wave amplitude in late near-field components. These decreases correlate to analgesia. This technique provides an objective and reliable dolormetric index.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sing
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000502:physiology*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005073:Evoked Potentials, Somatosensory / Q000502:physiology*; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management; D011817:Rabbits