electroacupuncture of multiple rodents in a 3d printed fixator

Usando um suporte impresso em 3D para eletroacupuntura em massa em pequenos animais

Electroacupuncture (EA) therapy is a unique method in which acupuncture needles are inserted into the scalp and connected to an electro-machine to stimulate specific points1. Unlike manual stimulation, EA allows better control of stimulation by stabilizing specific frequencies and waveforms to achieve optimal therapeutic effects2. According to a survey, 81.2% of medical institutions in China use EA or manual acupuncture to treat cerebral palsy, neuralgia, facial palsy, and other conditions. Despite its popularity, the specific mechanism of efficacy of EA is still unknown, which has hindered its promotion and application in the rehabilitation treatment of neurological diseases1,2,3. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of EA&#39;s effectiveness and to promote its use in the rehabilitation treatment of neurological diseases.
As the influence of acupuncture expands worldwide, many studies have already investigated the mechanisms of EA performed on rodent models, such as rat or mouse models1,2,3. Several issues are often encountered in EA&#39;s rodent experiments. The first is how to immobilize rodents without anesthesia, as acupuncture performed on awake subjects is more reflective of clinical practice. In addition, some experiments require animals to be awake to observe treatment effects2,3. Another challenge is accurately locating the acupoints in mice or rats that correspond to those in humans. The precise localization of acupoints in experimental rodents is currently being studied by many scholars4,5. In this protocol, MS6 and ST25 were selected, which have been clearly defined in rodents by the transformation of human anatomical localization. MS6 is commonly used for the treatment of some brain diseases, such as Parkinson&#39;s disease6. ST25 is usually used to treat gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea7. These two acupoints were chosen primarily to demonstrate how rodents can be effectively immobilized in both supine and prone positions. Moreover, these acupoints have been extensively studied and offer significant insights for research purposes6,7.
The previous method of immobilizing a single rat for experiments is not only time-consuming but also difficult to handle by a single person8. Additionally, due to the non-cooperation of animals, the success rate is relatively low in practice. Therefore, there is a critical need to create an easily established animal model with stable characteristics to improve experiment efficiency. In this article, a 3D printed holder for small animals was introduced that could easily immobilize multiple rodents, leading to motor restriction. The aim of this paper is to administer EA treatments to a batch of young rats or mice, focusing on the strategies for bulk restriction of mice, identification, and stimulation of MS6 and ST25 acupoints.

Autor em destaque: Usando um suporte impresso em 3D para operação simultânea de eletroacupuntura múltipla

Operação de eletroacupuntura em massa para camundongos ou ratos jovens

In this video, we introduce an efficient way of using electroacupuncture on multiple awake mice or rats. In vesical research, animal is urinating, but they are not cooperative, and acupuncture only is time consume. Another issue is about the anesthesia, which is not clinical applicable of acupuncture.To address these issues, we demonstrate efficient method of performing electroacupuncture on multiple awake mice or rats by using 3D printed holder. Our protocol demonstrates a more efficiency and safer way to hold multiple animals simultaneously, which unlike other method that imply immobilization, this method not only saves time, but also improve experimental success rates. Additionally, device is designed to be easy to handle, which could be operated by one person.The ProTech and device are beneficial for the promotion of experimental scientific research in electroacupuncture.

Eletroacupuntura de múltiplos roedores em fixador impresso em 3D

Para começar, divida uma corda de dois metros de comprimento em seis segmentos iguais. Use o mecanismo de fivela com mola para prender as extremidades das cordas, permitindo o fácil ajuste dos tamanhos das alças. Rosqueie cada uma das seis cordas através dos orifícios designados no fixador.Em seguida, posicione a cabeça do roedor dentro do orifício em forma de U no fixador. Aperte cuidadosamente as alças ao redor do pescoço do roedor e guie suavemente seu corpo através de duas das alças de corda preparadas. Em seguida, prenda as alças ao redor do abdômen do roedor, garantindo que ele esteja apertado o suficiente sem causar desconforto respiratório.Da mesma forma, imobilizar os outros dois roedores. Encontre os acupontos por localização anatômica e confirme a profundidade de inserção no acuponto. Torcer lentamente e inserir as agulhas estéreis descartáveis bilateralmente e subcutaneamente no MS6 ou no ST25.Em seguida, conecte um lado do cabo de conexão ao instrumento de eletroacupuntura. Conecte o outro lado do cabo de conexão com os clipes positivo e negativo às hastes da agulha de acupuntura à esquerda e à direita MS6. Ligue o instrumento de eletroacupuntura.Gire a função ou escolha o botão de interruptor para definir a frequência e o modo de função. Defina a frequência para 10 Hertz e escolha um modo de onda contínua. Gire o botão Ajustar intensidade para definir a intensidade em um a dois miliamperes com duração de cinco minutos.O fixador impresso em 3D permitiu a imobilização firme simultânea de três camundongos nas posições supina e prona, sem lesão. Os acupontos MS6 e ST25 foram localizados com sucesso e agulhados em roedores. O tempo médio de imobilização de três ratos em ambas as posições foi de 72 a 77 segundos.

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Electroacupuncture of Multiple Rodents in a 3D Printed Fixator

Bulk Electroacupuncture Operation for Mice or Young Rats

Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely used to treat various health conditions. However, the underlying mechanism of EA treatment remains unclear, hindering ...

Biologia