securing the rat in the rat jacket for electroacupuncture

大鼠外套增强大鼠电针期间的悬液固定

Acupuncture is a traditional therapy characterized by needling at specific acupoints or other positions to prevent and treat diseases. Electroacupuncture combines filiform needles with electrical stimulation1, which allows for precise control over the amount of stimulation by adjusting relevant parameters, promoting the standardization of acupuncture treatment2. In recent years, research on the mechanisms of electroacupuncture has continued to expand and deepen3,4, which has led to an annual increase in studies focusing on the mechanisms of electroacupuncture5.
In basic research on electroacupuncture, rats are the most commonly used animals. During electroacupuncture treatment, the recipient must remain still to ensure a smooth procedure. Unlike in clinical trials with human subjects, small animals used in animal experiments cannot follow commands consciously during 15-30 min lengthy electroacupuncture procedures. This presents researchers with a primary challenge of achieving stable and reliable fixation. Improper fixation can lead to negative emotions such as anxiety, depression, and fear in animals6, which not only increases the risk of injury for rats and the chance of being bitten for the experimental personnel but also affects the stability and persuasiveness of research results.
In previous studies, researchers have often used anesthesia fixation7, high platform fixation8, binding fixation6,9, or rat coat fixation10 before acupuncture or electroacupuncture operations. However, given the effects of anesthesia on the body11 and brain function12, and considering that acupuncture is performed on conscious patients in clinical cases, anesthesia may impact research results to a certain extent. Therefore, compared with anesthesia fixation, comfortable fixation of rats in an awake state is a better option.
However, in the non-anesthetized state, various fixation methods also possess their respective limitations, including restricted acupoint exposure due to coverage of the rat coat on rats10, the necessity of at least two individuals to perform the operation13, non-adjustable fixator size14, or the stressed state of rats in a forced position6. To address these technical issues, we designed a rat jacket and a fixation rack suitable for acupuncture manipulation in most parts of the rat body. This can help researchers efficiently carry out acupuncture procedures with rats.
The rationale for this protocol is as follows: firstly, the closed headgear on the rat&#39;s jacket takes advantage of the rats&#39; natural inclination for darkness and burrowing, thus restricting their range of activities. Secondly, the binding ropes near the joints of the rats&#39; limbs provide physical compression restraint, imposing certain limitations on their movements. However, rats are still able to jump and move horizontally even while wearing the jacket. Lastly, since rats cannot touch the ground without a fixed force point when suspended, we added a suspension fixation device to the rat jacket, further restricting their movements and ensuring needle retention. The composition of the fixation device is shown in Figure 1.
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/65652/65652fig01.jpg" /> 
Figure 1: Schematic diagram of the rat jacket and suspension fixation. (A) The general appearance of the rat jacket in a flat view. (B) Three-dimensional view of the rat jacket. (C) Specially tailored rat jacket with an incision near the acupoints on the head and back waist. (D) Illustration of multiple rats simultaneously suspended on the elevated rack. 1: Fabric overall view; 2: Forelimb outlet; 3: Hind limb outlet; 4: Tying rope; 5: Cavity formed after suturing; 6: Incision for exposing head acupoints; 7: Incision for exposing back and waist acupoints. 8: Suture position. <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/65652/65652fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.</a>

作者聚焦：改善电针期间大鼠固定的高效大鼠服装 

在大鼠针灸实验中使用大鼠夹克改进悬吊固定

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Securing the Rat in the Rat Jacket for Electroacupuncture at JoVE.com

将大鼠固定在大鼠夹克中进行电针治疗

戴上一副手套，然后继续将老鼠安装并固定在定制的老鼠夹克中。然后用一只手握住桌子上老鼠夹克的中间和背面。用另一只手轻轻地握住老鼠的尾巴，将其从喂食笼中捡起，并在老鼠向前进入夹克并且其头部到达头带点时将其放入夹克中。用双手小心地将其左右上肢从夹克的孔中拉出。将绑绳从夹克的开口端牢固地缠绕在老鼠的躯干上，并在另一端紧紧地系住，以充分约束其上肢。将绳子系得足够松，以防止缺氧或局部肢体缺血，并系得足够紧，以防止老鼠逃跑。以类似的方式固定其下肢。

securing-the-rat-in-the-rat-jacket-for-electroacupuncture

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

Securing the Rat in the Rat Jacket for Electroacupuncture

178 次观看. 戴上一副手套，然后继续将老鼠安装并固定在定制的老鼠夹克中。然后用一只手握住桌子上老鼠夹克的中间和背面。用另一只手轻轻地握住老鼠的尾巴，将其从喂食笼中捡起，并在老鼠向前进入夹克并且其头部到达头带点时将其放入夹克中。用双手小心地将其左右上肢从夹克的孔中拉出。将绑绳从夹克的开口端牢固地缠绕在老鼠的躯干上，并在另一端紧紧地系住，以充?...

视频: 将大鼠固定在大鼠夹克中进行电针治疗

Improved Suspension Fixation Using Rat Jacket in Rat Acupuncture Experiments

In basic experimental acupuncture research, rats are commonly used as laboratory animals. However, it is difficult for them to maintain a fixed posture. During electroacupuncture procedures, proper immobilization of rats is essential. Various methods of rat fixation are currently used, including anesthesia fixation, high-platform fixation, binding fixation, and fixation with a self-made rat coat. However, these methods have their limitations, which may affect the efficiency and operability of the experiment to some extent. This protocol introduces a method of suspending and fixing rats using rat clothes. Firstly, rats are clothed with rat jackets that match their body shape, taking advantage of their preference for darkness and burrowing. The needling operation can then be carried out after the rats have worn rat clothes. When suspended, the rats are relatively still, as their limbs cannot move. This fixation method offers not only economical and user-friendly benefits but also ensures a stable and reliable fixation of the rats in a comfortably relaxed position. It also effectively minimizes time consumption, experimental space, and manpower resources. Additionally, this method allows for the exposure of most acupoints used for acupuncture in rats. This article primarily concentrates on the device's composition, encompassing a specially designed rat jacket, an elevated fixation rack, and their connecting structures. Additionally, an illustrative example will be presented to demonstrate the application of the rat clothing-based suspension fixation method in rat electroacupuncture procedures.

Here, we present an improved suspension fixation method using a rat jacket to effectively immobilize rats during acupuncture experiments. Furthermore, the structure and application of this fixation apparatus, as well as instructions and evaluation for its utilization in electroacupuncture therapy, is elucidated.

In basic experimental acupuncture research, rats are commonly used as laboratory animals. However, it is difficult for them to maintain a fixed posture. ...