Name: 作者聚焦：改善电针期间大鼠固定的高效大鼠服装
Uploaded: 2023-08-18T14:05:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Efficient Rat Clothing for Improved Rat Fixation During Electroacupuncture at JoVE.com

作者要感谢 Home for Researchers 的 Figdraw 科研绘图平台提供用于创建本文图 2 的材料，授权许可证 ID：URUUO5699e。这项工作得到了国家自然科学基金（81873380,82074566）、湖北省自然科学基金（2022CFCO43）和国家中医药管理局国家名中医药遗产工作室建设项目（[2022]5号，[2022]75号）的支持。

本研究中对大鼠进行的所有程序均遵守中华人民共和国正式采用的《国家实验动物福利和伦理审查指南》（2018）和国家科学院出版社的《实验动物护理和使用指南》15。该协议由三个主要步骤组成。首先，老鼠夹克是根据不同体重的大鼠的个体体型量身定制和合身的。接下来，按照标准程序进行针灸操作。最后，将大鼠悬浮在夹克中，而针头保持在原位，以适应同一组内大鼠同?...

大鼠外套增强大鼠电针期间的悬液固定

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电针已被证明对认知障碍 16,17、心肌损伤18、炎症性疼痛19 等多种疾病有良好的治疗效果。为了了解其作用机制，已经进行了主要使用大鼠的动物实验。在手术过程中固定动物对于获得准确的结果至关重要。虽然许多研究在动物麻醉后进行了电针治疗，但这种做法可能会阻碍大脑功能并影响实验的准确性。此外，长期...

针灸是一种传统的疗法，其特点是在特定的穴位或其他位置针刺，以预防和治疗疾病。电针将丝状针与电刺激1相结合，通过调整相关参数可以精确控制刺激量，促进针灸治疗的标准化2。近年来，对电针机制的研究不断拓展和深化3,4，这导致以电针机制为重点的研究逐年增加5。
在电针的基础研究中，大鼠是最常用的动物。在电针治疗期间，接受者必须保持静止，以确保手术顺利进行。与人类受试者的临床试验不同，动物实验中使用的小动物在15-30分钟的电针治疗过程中不能有意识地遵循命令。这给研究人员带来了实现稳定可靠固定的主要挑战。固定不当会导致动物6产生焦虑、抑郁、恐惧等负面情绪，这不仅增加了大鼠受伤的风险和实验人员被咬伤的机会，而且影响了研究结果的稳定性和说服力。
在以往的研究中，研究人员在针灸或电针手术前经常使用麻醉固定7、高平台固定8、结合固定 6,9 或大鼠外套固定10。然而，考虑到麻醉对身体11和脑功能12的影响，并考虑到针灸是在临床病例中对清醒的患者进行的，麻醉可能会在一定程度上影响研究结果。因此，与麻醉固定相比，清醒状态下大鼠的舒适固定是更好的选择。
然而，在非麻醉状态下，各种固定方法也有其各自的局限性，包括由于大鼠皮毛覆盖在大鼠身上而限制的穴位暴露10，需要至少两个人进行手术13，不可调节的固定器尺寸14，或大鼠处于强迫位置的应力状态6.为了解决这些技术问题，我们设计了一种大鼠夹克和一个固定架，适用于大鼠身体大部分部位的针灸操作。这可以帮助研究人员有效地对大鼠进行针灸手术。
该协议的基本原理如下：首先，老鼠夹克上的封闭式头盔利用了老鼠对黑暗和挖洞的自然倾向，从而限制了它们的活动范围。其次，靠近大鼠四肢关节的捆绑绳提供了物理压缩约束，对它们的运动施加了一定的限制。然而，即使穿着夹克，老鼠仍然能够跳跃和水平移动。最后，由于老鼠在悬挂时没有固定的受力点就无法接触地面，因此我们在老鼠夹克上增加了一个悬挂固定装置，进一步限制了它们的运动并确保针头固定。固定装置的组成如图 1所示。
<img alt="Figure 1" class="xfigimg" src="/files/ftp_upload/65652/65652fig01.jpg"> 图 1：大鼠夹克和悬架固定示意图。（A） 大鼠夹克在平面视图下的一般外观。 （B） 大鼠夹克的三维视图。 （C） 特别定制的老鼠夹克，在头部和后腰部的穴位附近有一个切口。 （D） 多只大鼠同时悬挂在高架上的图示。1：织物整体视图;2：前肢出口;3：后肢出口;4：系绳;5：缝合后形成的空腔;6：露出头部穴位的切口;7：用于暴露背部和腰部穴位的切口。8：缝合位置。 <a href="https://www.jove.com/files/ftp_upload/65652/65652fig01large.jpg" target="_blank">请点击这里查看此图的较大版本.</a>

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	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>75% alcohol</td>
			<td>Shandong Lircon medical technology co., ltd</td>
			<td>2002-0059</td>
			<td>Disinfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>acupuncture needles</td>
			<td>Beijing Luo ya shan chuan medical equipment co., Ltd.</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>needling</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats</td>
			<td>Liaoning Changsheng biotechnology co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>SCXK 2020-0001</td>
			<td>The recipient&#160; subjected to fixation</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>an elevated fixation rack&#160;</td>
			<td>Taizhou shiai instruments and equipments for scientific and teaching research&#160; Co., ltd</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>Fix rats</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Hans electronic acupuncture apparatus</td>
			<td>Beijing Huayun Ante Science and Technology Co. Ltd.&#160;</td>
			<td>HANS-200A</td>
			<td>electroacupuncture</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Medical cotton ball</td>
			<td>Jiangsu Misawa Medical Supplies Co., Ltd.</td>
			<td>20172142357</td>
			<td>Disinfection</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Pet electric clipper</td>
			<td>Fenghua Xikou Lubao Knives &#38; Scissors Electrical Appliance Factory</td>
			<td>/</td>
			<td>Shave the hair of rats</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Tweezers</td>
			<td>Qingdao Schultz Biotechnology Co., ltd</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Pinch cotton balls</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

improved suspension fixation using rat jacket in rat acupuncture experiments

在基础实验针灸研究中，大鼠通常被用作实验动物。但是，他们很难保持固定的姿势。在电针治疗过程中，正确固定大鼠是必不可少的。目前使用多种大鼠固定方法，包括麻醉固定、高平台固定、结合固定和自制大鼠外套固定。然而，这些方法都有其局限性，可能会在一定程度上影响实验的效率和可操作性。该协议介绍了一种使用老鼠衣服悬挂和固定大鼠的方法。首先，老鼠穿着与其体型相匹配的老鼠夹克，利用它们对黑暗和挖洞的偏好。然后在大鼠穿上大鼠衣服后进行针刺操作。当悬浮时，老鼠相对静止，因为它们的四肢不能移动。这种固定方法不仅具有经济和用户友好的好处，而且确保了将大鼠稳定可靠地固定在舒适放松的位置。它还有效地减少了时间消耗、实验空间和人力资源。此外，这种方法允许暴露用于大鼠针灸的大多数穴位。本文主要集中介绍该设备的组成，包括专门设计的老鼠夹克、高架固定架及其连接结构。此外，还将提供一个说明性示例，以演示基于大鼠服装的悬吊固定方法在大鼠电针操作中的应用。

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

We developed an improved method for suspending and fixing rats with rat clothes in an acupuncture experiment. This protocol aims to provide detailed descriptions of its procedural steps, including important precautions, offering a reference for researchers conducting fundamental experiments in the field of acupuncture and moxibustion. In previously reported studies, researchers have often used anesthesia fixation, high platform fixation, binding fixation, or various other self-made fixators while performing acupuncture or electroacupuncture operations on rats.Given the side effects of anesthesia on the body and the real clinical conditions, fixation in an awakened stage offers the better alternative. However, in the non-anesthetized stage, the mentioned fixations also possess limitations such as restricted acupoint exposure, requirement of multiple labels, non-adjustable fixator size, or forced posture. This method utilizes the rat's preference for burrowing to create rat jackets that fit their body shape.It offers several advantages over other techniques. It is cost-effective, user-friendly, manpower-and space-saving, accommodates rats of varying weights, and can also be used for needle operation on most acupoints. In subsequent studies, we will focus on investigating the impact of the restraints and suspensions of rat clothing on physiological indicators and behavioral aspects related to emotional cognition in rats.This will enable us to quantitatively assess its potential influence on research and refine the fixation method.

本实验共选取12只大鼠进行电针治疗，观察其固定法下的反应（ 如表2所示）。在12只大鼠中，只有1只大鼠在15 min电针停留期间表现出剧烈的挣扎。由于其剧烈的运动，针头中途脱落，占大鼠总数的8.33%。这一结果表明，所使用的固定方法通常表现出显着的稳定性和可靠性。尽管一只大鼠表现出挣扎，但该组中的大多数大鼠在整个治疗过程中都保持了适当的针头固定。此外，在采用该?...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Efficient Rat Clothing for Improved Rat Fixation During Electroacupuncture at JoVE.com

在这里，我们提出了一种改进的悬浮固定方法，使用大鼠夹克在针灸实验中有效地固定大鼠。此外，还阐明了该固定装置的结构和应用，以及其在电针治疗中的应用说明和评估。

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

我们在针灸实验中开发了一种改进的用大鼠衣服悬浮和固定大鼠的方法。该协议旨在详细描述其程序步骤，包括重要的预防措施，为在针灸领域进行基础实验的研究人员提供参考。在先前报道的研究中，研究人员在对大鼠进行针灸或电针手术时，经常使用麻醉固定、高平台固定、结合固定或其他各种自制固定器。考虑到麻醉对身体的副作用和真实的临床状况，在觉醒阶段固定提供了更好的选择。然而，在非麻醉阶段，上述固定也具有局限性，例如限制穴位暴露、需要多个标签、固定器尺寸不可调或强迫姿势。这种方法利用老鼠对挖洞的偏好来制作适合其体型的老鼠夹克。与其他技术相比，它具有多项优势。它具有成本效益、用户友好、节省人力和空间，可容纳不同体重的大鼠，也可用于大多数穴位的针头手术。在后续研究中，我们将重点研究大鼠服装的约束和悬浮对大鼠情绪认知相关生理指标和行为方面的影响。这将使我们能够定量评估其对研究的潜在影响并改进固定方法。

improved-suspension-fixation-using-rat-jacket-rat-acupuncture

Research

JoVE Journal

Medicine

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.

科研

医学

Securing the Rat in the Rat Jacket for Electroacupuncture

Wear a pair of gloves before proceeding to fit and secure the rat in the custom made rat jacket. Then using one hand hold the rat jacket's middle and back portion on the table. Using the other hand, gently hold the rat by its tail to pick it up from the feeding cage and place it into the jacket as the rat moves forward into the jacket and its head reaches the headgear point.Using both hands, carefully pull out its left and right upper limbs from the holes in the jacket. Securely wrap the tying ropes from the opening end of the jacket around the rat's trunk, and tie them tightly at the opposite end to adequately restrain its upper limbs. Tie the rope loose enough to prevent hypoxia or local limb ischemia, and tight enough to prevent the rat's escape.In a similar manner, secure its lower limbs.

将大鼠固定在大鼠夹克中进行电针治疗

Performing Electroacupuncture on Rat Immobilized Using Rat Jacket

Before beginning the procedure of electropuncture on the rat, dress the rat in the custom made rat jacket. Then disinfect the local skin of acupoints using alcohol swabs. After locating the acupoint accurately, insert the sterile disposable acupuncture needle into the spot at the appropriate depth.Gently suspend the animal from the horizontal iron rod with the help of the S-shaped hooks attached to the rat jacket. Wrap the electrode wire around the horizontal iron rod before securely attaching the small clip at the end of the electrode wire to the needle handle. Then after switching on the power, select the appropriate frequency, current, and time.Once the parameters are adjusted, commence the electroacupuncture treatment process. Using the S-shaped hooks, suspend the rats in the same group together on the iron rod for simultaneous electroacupuncture. When the treatment is over, remove the acupuncture needle along with the clamp from the animal.Then carefully take the needle out of the clamp and put it in the box. After removing the animal from the suspension hooks, loosen the straps, lift the head cover of the rat's jacket and position the rat above the cage. The rat will then be free to release itself from the jacket and enter the cage independently.While performing a 15 minute electroacupuncture experiment on 12 rats only one rat exhibited intense struggle during the needle retention period resulting in needle drop. While other rats maintained proper needle fixation throughout the treatment. When compared to the other fixation methods reported in the literature, the demonstrated method exhibited the combined benefits of stability and secure fixation, efficiency in terms of time and number of personnel required, affordability, as well as relative comfort for the rats.Additionally, in terms of the exposed acupoint range, the specially designed rat jackets in this protocol met the requirements for exposing most acupoints on the body.