Comparison of the effectiveness of electronic acupuncture and low frequency pulse to enhance the urination in a rabbit urinary retention model

English Keywords:Urine retention  Urination  Low frequency pulse  Electric acupuncture  Rabbits

English Abstract:

  【Abstract】 Objectives: To compare the difference of the enhancing effect of electronic acupuncture and low frequency pulse acupoint stimulation on the urination potential in a rabbit urinary retention model. Methods: 40 male New Zealand rabbits were used and randomly divided into normal group(n=10), control group(n=10), electronic acupuncture group(EA group, n=10) and low frequency group(n=10). Under the condition of general anesthesia, four groups of animals were inserted transurethral tube, suction empty bladder with a syringe, at a speed of 50ml/h to the bladder perfusion physiological saline, in 50min reperfusion, control group EA group and low frequency group at the same time at a speed of 20ml/h uniform intravenous 0.05% mountain scopolamine 10ml model type weakening in function of forced urinous muscle, bladder, and normal group, constant intravenous injection amount of saline solution. Interventions: when the bladder perfusion(90min), taking in A hole on one side and three Yin meridians stimulated, time to 20min EA group on the acupuncture needle retaining needle, electric acupuncture apparatus and connections, 2Hz frequency current of 0.6A constant stimulation was used. The low frequency group attached electrodes to the acupuncture points, which were connected to the frequency of 20-100Hz of the TERESA nerve body instrument, which stimulated the width of the pulse width of 100 to 500μs. No stimulus was used in control group and normal group, the rest for 20min; physiological signal acquisition system instrument was used to measure four groups of animals when the bladder perfusion(before intervention) over at the end of the intervention, and the end of intervention measures immediately from the urine tube average urination urine speed(5min). Results: Intervention measures four groups of animals before the pressure on the bladder and low frequency group(12.6±1.5cmH2O), EA group(13.5±1.6cm H2O), in control group(12.5±1.5cmH2O) was significantly lower than normal group(16.7±3.2cmH2O). After intervention measures, low frequencygroup(16.8±1.6cmH2O) was significantly higher than control group(11.6±1.4cmH2O), which was also higher than the group with the end of bladder perfusion(before intervention). Micturition speed comparison showed low frequency group(106.2±10.2 drops/min), EA group(102.3±10.5 drops/min), normal group(105.7±11.4 drops/min) were significantly higher than control group(84.4±9.7 drops/min)(all P<0.05); in the low frequency group and EA group, the inside bladder pressure and average micturition speed showed no statistical significance(P＞0.05). Conclusions: Both the electric acupuncture and low frequency pulse acupoint stimulation are effective to improve the urination of urinary retention in rabbits; low frequency pulse acupoint stimulation is easily accessible without invasive operations which is more suitable for extensively clinical application.