title: Improved methods for electroacupuncture and electromyographic recordings in normal and parkinsonian rhesus monkeys.
abstract: Although acupuncture has been widely and routinely used in healthcare in the USA, its use has been based more on empirical observation than on scientific knowledge. Therefore, there is a great need for better understanding the underlying mechanism(s) of action. A great body of evidence supports that nonhuman primates are a candidate for studying human diseases. However, the use of nonhuman primates in neurophysiological, neuroimaging and neurochemical studies is extremely challenging, especially under fully conscious, alert conditions. In the present study, we developed a protocol for safely performing acupuncture, electroacupuncture (EA) and electromyography (EMG) in both normal nonhuman primates and animals with parkinsonian-like symptoms. Four normal and four hemiparkinsonian middle-aged rhesus monkeys were extensively trained, behaviorally monitored, and received both EA and EMG for several months. The results demonstrated that (1) all rhesus monkeys used in the study could be trained for procedures including EA and EMG; (2) all animals tolerated the procedures involving needle/electrode insertion; (3) EA procedures used in the study did not adversely alter the animal's locomotor activities; rather, MPTP-treated animals showed a significant improvement in movement speed; and (4) EMG detected significant differences in muscle activity between the arms with and without MPTP-induced rigidity. Our results support that rhesus monkeys can be used as an experimental animal model to study EA and that EMG has the potential to be used to objectively assess the effects of antiparkinsonian therapies. The results also indicate that animals, especially those with parkinsonian-like symptoms, could benefit from long-term EA stimulations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Key Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disorders of the Ministry Education, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, PR China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiaotong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grondin
authors.forename: Ramsey
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moorehead
authors.forename: Greg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.forename: Xiaomin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhiming
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D020267:MPTP Poisoning / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D014741:Video Recording