EFFECTS OF ACUPUNCTURE ON BEHAVIORAL, CARDIOVASCULAR AND HORMONAL RESPONSES IN RESTRAINT-STRESSED WISTAR RATS

Stress is a well-known entity and may be defined as a threat to the ho meostasis of a being. In the present study, we evaluated the effects o f acupuncture on the physiological responses induced by restraint stre ss. Acupuncture is an ancient therapeutic technique which is used in t he treatment and prevention of diseases. Its proposed mechanisms of ac tion are based on the principle of homeostasis. Adult male Wistar EPM- 1 rats were divided into four groups: group I (N = 12), unrestrained r ats with cannulas previously implanted into their femoral arteries for blood pressure and heart rate measurements; group II (N = 12), rats t hat were also cannulated and were submitted to 60-min immobilization; group III (N = 12), same as group II but with acupuncture needles impl anted at points SP6, S36, REN17, P6 and DU20 during the immobilization period; group IV (N = 14), same as group III but with needles implant ed at points not related to acupuncture (non-acupoints). During the 60 -min immobilization period animals were assessed for stress-related be haviors, heart rate, blood pressure and plasma corticosterone, noradre naline and adrenaline levels, Group III animals showed a significant r eduction (60% on average, P<0.02) in restraint-induced behaviors when compared to groups II and IV. Data from cardiovascular and hormonal as sessments indicated no differences between group III and group II and IV animals, but tended to be lower (50% reduction on average) in group I animals. We hypothesize that acupuncture at points SP6, S36, REN17, P6 and DU20 has an anxiolytic effect on restraint-induced stress that is not due to a sedative action.