Abstract
Sixteen dogs were used to study the analgesic effects of electroacupuncture. Electroacu-puncture lowered halothane MAC significantly (1.21 ± 0.04 to 1.05 ± 0.05 per cent, p < 0.005). Reversibility of this effect by narcotic antagonist was then studied, using naltrexone 5mg.kg-1 injected intravenously (10 dogs) or 0.5mg kg-1 intrathecally (3 dogs). We failed to see any reversal of the effect of electroacupuncture on MAC. Narcotic antagonist reversibility of acupuncture effect is taken currently to imply endorphin mediation. Possible explanations for our result include an electroacupuncture analgesia not mediated by endorphins.
Résumé
On a étudié sur seize chiens les propriétés analgésiques de l’acupuncture. L’électroacupuncture a abaissé le MAC de l’halothane de façon significative (de 1.21 ± 0.04 à 1.05 ± 0.05 pour cent, P < 0.05). On a par la suite évalué la réversibilité de cet effet par les narcotiques antagonistes en injectant par la voie veineuse du naltrexone 5 mg . kgi-1 (10 chiens) ou 0.5 mg . kgi-1 par la voie intrathécale (3 chiens). Aucun renversement de l’effet de l’électroacupuncture n’a été observé sur le MAC. On a cru jusqu’à maintenant que la réversibilité de l’acupuncture par les antagonistes narcotiques nécessitent une médication endorphinique. Une explication possible des résultats rapportés ici peut laisser supposer que au contraire l’analgésie par acupuncture ne se fait pas par médiation endorphinique.
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Tay, AA.L., Tseng, CK., Pace, N.L. et al. Failure of narcotic antagonist to alter electroacupuncture modification of halothane anaesthesia in the dog. Can. Anaesth. Soc. J. 29, 231–235 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03007122
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03007122