[Effect of electro-acupuncture and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation on experimental diabetes and its neuropathy].
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) and transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) on plasma glucose levels, neuropathy symptoms, and pain thresholds in diabetic rats.
Results Summary
EA significantly lowered plasma glucose levels and improved neuropathy symptoms, while TENS showed modest effects. EA also elevated pain thresholds, whereas TENS and the control group showed lowered thresholds.
Population
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Effective Dosage
20 minutes once every 2-3 days
Duration
Five weeks
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
electro-acupuncture (EA) at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points | decrease | increased plasma glucose levels | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin | P < 0.05 | lowered significantly | #1 |
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points | decrease | increased plasma glucose levels | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin | P > 0.05 | lowered slightly | #2 |
electro-acupuncture (EA) at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points | decrease | symptoms of polyphagia, polydipsia and polyuria | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin | - | attenuated | #3 |
electro-acupuncture (EA) at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points | increase | motor nerve conduction velocity slowing | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin | after a course of four weeks treatment | prevented or corrected | #4 |
transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points | increase | motor nerve conduction velocity slowing | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin | after a course of six weeks treatment | prevented or corrected | #5 |
- | decrease | pain threshold | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (DM and TENS groups) | at 6-20 days after injection of STZ | lowered | #6 |
electro-acupuncture (EA) at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points | increase | pain threshold | experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin | P < 0.05 | elevated | #7 |
In this paper, the experimental diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ, i.p. 50 mg/kg) were divided into three groups, electro-acupuncture (EA group, n = 8), transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS group, n = 8), at bilateral Shenshu and Zusanli points for 20 minutes once every 2-3 days for five weeks, and without any treatment (DM group, n = 6) respectively. As compared with the DM group, the increased plasma glucose levels was lowered significantly in EA group (P < 0.05) and slightly in TENS group (P > 0.05) by the end of the sixth week. And the symtoms of polyphagia, polydipsia and polyuria were attenuated in EA group. The motor nerve conduction velocity slowing was prevented or corrected after a course of four and six weeks treatment in EA and TENS group respectively. In the DM and TENS groups the pain threshold was lowered at 6-20 days after injection of STZ, but elevated in EA group, their differences were of significance (P < 0.05). In general, the efficiency of EA treatment on experimental diabetes and its neuropathy was better than that of TENS therapy.