[Analgesic effects of electroacupuncture of different pulse waveforms in the rat of adjuvant arthritis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the best pulse waveform of electroacupuncture for treatment of adjuvant arthritis (AA).


METHODS
Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. The electroacupuncture groups of AA were treated with different pulse waveforms of electroacupuncture, respectively. Pain threshold, swelling degrees of joint, and contents of 5-HT, beta-EP and LEK in local tissues of inflammation were observed.


RESULTS
After the treatment, pain thresholds of the electroacupuncture groups with different pulse waveforms were higher than that of the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); the local swelling degrees of inflammation in the electroacupuncture group were higher than that in the normal group (P < 0. 01), but was lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0. 01); the contents of 5-HT in local tissues of inflammation in the electroacupuncture groups were lower than that in the model group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01); in comparison with the model group, the electroacupuncture of sound-electric wave increased the contents of beta-EP and LEK (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and the electroacupuncture of intermittent wave increased the content of beta-EP in local tissues of inflammation (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Sound-electric wave is the best pulse waveform of electroacupuncture for treatment of adjuvant arthritis.
Kuai
Le
L
College of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 201203, China. happykuai2004@msn.com
Yang
Hua-Yuan
HY
Liu
Tang-Yi
TY
Gao
Ming
M
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000700:Analgesics; D000818:Animals; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000628:therapy; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000700:Analgesics