Age Differences in Naloxone Reversibility of Electroacupuncture on the Jaw Opening Reflex in Rats

• Main Authors: Hiromi Yamashita (Author), Jorge Luis Lopes Zeredo (Author), Kazuo Toda (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Medical Association of Pharmacopuncture Institute, 2021-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2005-2901; 10.51507/j.jams.2021.14.4.167
• Keywords: jaw-opening reflex; tooth pulp; electroacupuncture; age; naloxone; rat; Other systems of medicine; RZ201-999
• Source: Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies, Vol 14, Iss 4, Pp 167-172 (2021)

Background : Electroacupuncture is one of the most popular physical treatments for clinical pain, but the potential influence of a patient's age on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture treatment has not been clearly established. Objectives: The present study aimed to detect a potential difference in electroacupuncture- induced analgesia between juvenile and adult rats. Methods : In this study, we investigated the effects of electroacupuncture treatment on the nociceptive jaw-opening reflex evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation in juvenile and adult rats. Results : Our results showed there were age differences in electroacupuncture-induced analgesic effects in rats, especially with naloxone antagonization. The ratio of naloxonereversibility against electroacupuncture analgesia was greater in adult rats than in juvenile rats. Conclusion : These results suggest that electroacupuncture analgesia is produced mainly by the non-opioid system in juvenile rats and by the opioid system in adult rats.