Influence Of Electro-Acupuncture Of The "Waiguan" Point On The Temperature Of The Ear Of Rabbits: Exploration Of The Pathway Between "Waiguan" And The Ear

Jiang Songlin, Yu Bin, Wang Xinmei, Li Fenglian (Department of Physiology, Heilongjiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine)

A thermal couple was used to monitor the temperature continuously while the "Waiguan" point was stimulated with electro-acupuncture. The temperature changes were used as indices of response of the experimental animal to the stimulation. The intensity of the electric current was 5-100 µA, frequency was 20-30/sec, and the duration was 5 minutes.

The experimental animal was placed in a box to restrain its movements. All possible sources of excitation, such as light and sound, should be avoided. Struggling should also be avoided. When the temperature of the ear is stable, the experiment was then started. A total of 78 experiments on 60 rabbits were done. The results are as follows:

1. In 11 rabbits, no local anesthesia was used at the "Waiguan" point, electric stimulation caused the ear temperature to drop in 4, raise in 6, and no change in 1 animal.

This proves that there is a pathway between the ear and the "Waiguan" point.

2. In 8 animals, the "Waiguan" point was anesthetized with local anesthesia, the reaction to the electrical stimulation was abolished.

This proves that the receptor at the site of stimulation is responsible for the reaction.

3. In 7 animals subjected to general anesthesia, 4 failed to respond, 2 reacted feebly and 1 reacted normally.

This proves that the C.N.S. participated in the response to the electro-acupuncture.

4. When the corresponding brachial plexus was severed, the temperature response to the electric stimulation was either abolished or significantly diminished.

This proves that the pathway from the acupuncture site to the ear lies in the brachial plexus.

5. In one experimental animal whose cervical sympathetic trunks were severed, the temperature response of the ipsilateral ear augmented, but the temperature response of the contralateral ear diminished.

This proves that the efferent pathway for regulating the temperature of ear is complicated.

Preliminary Conclusions:

Our experiments tend to prove that there is a pathway between the ear and the "Waiguan" point. The receptors at the site of acupuncture, the brachial plexus innervating the stimulated fore leg and certain parts of the C.N.S. are involved in provoking the response.