Cutaneous analgesia, hemodynamic and respiratory effects, and beta-endorphin concentration in spinal fluid and plasma of horses after acupuncture and electroacupuncture.

The research study aims to find out the effects of acupuncture and electroacupuncture on pain relief, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and beta-endorphin levels in horses. The findings show that both methods are effective for relieving skin pain without negative impacts on the heart and respiratory system. However, electroacupuncture is more effective in triggering the spinal cord release of beta-endorphins.

Study Participants and Methods

• The subjects of this experiment were eight healthy mares aged 10 to 20 years, each weighing between 470 and 600 kilograms.
• The horses were administered either acupuncture or electroacupuncture in rotating sequences over two-hour periods at specific acupoints (Bladder 18, 23, 25, and 28). These sessions were done seven days apart.
• The researchers also conducted a control treatment using sham needle placement.
• Measurements were taken on several indicators to judge the effects of the treatments – nociceptive cutaneous pain threshold, skin temperature, cardiovascular and respiratory variables, as well as beta-endorphin concentration in spinal fluid and plasma.

Findings of the Study

• Both acupuncture and electroacupuncture increased the skin’s pain threshold and its temperature, signifying the cutaneous analgesic effect of these treatments.
• Increases in beta-endorphin levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (indicative of pain relief) were observed within 30 to 120 minutes following electroacupuncture. These levels remained unchanged after acupuncture or control treatments.
• Both methods failed to make any significant differences in heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, arterial blood pressure, hematocrit, total solids and bicarbonate concentrations, base excess, and blood gas analyses.

Conclusions of the Study

• Electroacupuncture was found to be more effective than regular acupuncture in stimulating the release of beta-endorphins in the spinal cord, indicative of increased therapeutic potential.
• Both acupuncture and electroacupuncture offered skin analgesia without any detrimental effects on cardiovascular and respiratory variables in horses. This may imply potential for clinical use of these techniques for pain management in equine veterinary practice.