J Vet Sci.  2002 Sep;3(3):193-201.

Effects of Electroacupuncture on Minimum Alveolar Concentration of Isoflurane and Cardiovascular System in Isoflurane Anesthetized Dogs

• Jeong SM

Abstract

The effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) and on the cardiovascular system were evaluated with dogs under isoflurane anesthesia. Eight healthy male beagles were randomly assigned to six study groups (five heads/group) with washout intervals of 7 ~ 31 days between experiments for recovery and anesthetic clearance. MAC of isoflurane and cardiovascular parameters were determined after EA at nonacupoint and and at acupoints LI-4, SP-6, ST-36 and TH-8. Electroacupuncture for 30 minutes at LI-4, SP-6, ST-36 and TH-8 acupoints lowered the MAC of isoflurane by 17.5 +/- 3.1%, 21.3 +/- 8.0%, 20.5 +/- 8.2% and 15.6 +/- 3.1%, respectively (p < 0.05). However, electrical stimulation of nonacupoint did not induce a significant change in MAC of isoflurane. In the cardiovascular system, the ST-36 group did not induce any significant change in cardiovascular parameters. In the TH-8 group, the mean and diastolic arterial pressure and the systemic vascular resistance were decreased. In the LI-4 group, cardiac output and cardiac index decreased after EA. These results indicate that EA at LI-4, SP-6 and ST-36 have advantages in isoflurane anesthesia in terms of reducing the dose of anesthetics and minimizing cardiovascular side effects.

Keyword

dog; electroacupuncture; isoflurane; minimum alveolar concentration; cardiovascular system

MeSH Terms

Anesthesia, Inhalation/adverse effects/*veterinary
Anesthetics, Inhalation/*pharmacokinetics/pharmacology
Animals
Blood Pressure/drug effects
Cardiac Output
Dogs/*metabolism/physiology
Electroacupuncture/*veterinary
Heart Rate/drug effects
Isoflurane/*pharmacokinetics/pharmacology
Male
Pulmonary Alveoli/*metabolism
Pulmonary Wedge Pressure/drug effects
Random Allocation
Vascular Resistance/drug effects