Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz.

, 1994, 13 (3), 927-933

Characteristics of acupuncture meridians and acupoints in animals

C. YU, K. ZHANG, G. LU, J. XU, H. XIE, Z. LUI, Y. WANG and J. ZHU * Summary: In recent years, an increasing number of studies has been conducted on the biophysical characteristics of the meridians and acupoints in humans and animals. The authors aim to further illustrate the objective existence and superficial locations of the meridians in various species of animals. Twelve sheep, ten goats, thirteen pigs, eleven cats, eight rabbits and seven donkeys were used to measure low impedance lines (LILs) and high percussion sound lines (HPSLs) on the skin surface of the animals, along the vertical planes of the dorsal line, using electrical impulses and high percussion sound. The results of these studies are given. K E Y W O R D S : A c u p u n c t u r e - Biophysics - M e r i d i a n - Traditional medicine.

INTRODUCTION
T h e m e r i d i a n t h e o r y , a p r i n c i p a l e l e m e n t of b o t h h u m a n a n d v e t e r i n a r y t r a d i t i o n a l C h i n e s e m e d i c i n e , h a s g u i d e d c l i n i c a l w o r k f o r t h o u s a n d s of y e a r s in C h i n a . H u m a n m e r i d i a n s w e r e first d e s c r i b e d d u r i n g t h e H a n D y n a s t y in t h e b o o k s Zu-bi Shi-yi-mai Jiu Jing ( ' C l a s s i c of e l e v e n c h a n n e l s o n f o o t a n d a r m ' ) a n d Huang-di Nei-jing ('Yellow E m p e r o r ' s C l a s s i c of i n t e r n a l m e d i c i n e ' ) , b o t h of w h i c h w e r e w r i t t e n in C h i n e s e in t h e 3rd c e n t u r y B C ( 1 , 2 ) . O n l y t h e n a m e s of t w e l v e m a j o r c h a n n e l s in a n i m a l s a n d t w e l v e a c u p u n c t u r e p o i n t s w e r e l i s t e d i n Si-mu An-ji Ji ( ' C o l l e c t i o n s of e q u i n e c a r e a n d t r e a t m e n t ' ) , w r i t t e n in C h i n e s e d u r i n g t h e T a n g D y n a s t y . T h e t w e l v e m a j o r c h a n n e l s in oxen a n d h o r s e s w e r e d e s c r i b e d in Yuan-Heng Liao-ma Ji ( ' Y u a n H e n g ' s T h e r a p e u t i c t r e a t i s e o n h o r s e s ' ) w r i t t e n in C h i n e s e d u r i n g t h e M i n g D y n a s t y ( 3 , 4, 6, 10). H o w e v e r , these r e c o r d s of a n i m a l m e r i d i a n s a r e i n c o m p l e t e a n d a m b i g u o u s . T h e e x i s t e n c e of m e r i d i a n s is s u p p o r t e d b y v a r i o u s s t u d i e s of t h e i r b i o p h y s i c a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s . L o w e l e c t r i c a l r e s i s t a n c e of t h e s k i n w a s r e p o r t e d a l o n g t h e p a t h of m e r i d i a n s ( 7 , 8, 11) a n d , m o r e r e c e n t l y , i n v e s t i g a t o r s w e r e a b l e t o d e m o n s t r a t e m e r i d i a n s u s i n g a v a r i e t y of b i o p h y s i c a l m e t h o d s , i n c l u d i n g a c o u s t i c s , electricity, light, h e a t , m a g n e t i s m a n d r a d i o a c t i v e i s o t o p e s ( 5 , 9, 1 2 ) . H o w e v e r , t h e m a j o r i t y of t h e s e s t u d i e s w e r e r e l a t e d t o h u m a n m e r i d i a n s . S t u d i e s o n t h e m e r i d i a n s of d o m e s t i c a t e d animals h a v e b e e n l i m i t e d .

* College of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University, 100094 Beijing, People's Republic of China.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

M e a s u r e m e n t o f electricity and s o u n d a l o n g t h e b a c k r e g i o n o f t h e urinary b l a d d e r meridian Animals Twelve s h e e p , t e n goats, t h r e e Beijing swine, t e n m i n i a t u r e swine, eleven cats and s e v e n d o n k e y s w e r e u s e d in this study. T h e b a c k of e a c h a n i m a l w a s s h a v e d a n d c l e a n e d p r i o r t o t h e e x p e r i m e n t . S t u d i e s w e r e c o n d u c t e d in a q u i e t e n v i r o n m e n t . Measurement of the low impedance line

M e a s u r e m e n t s a l o n g t h e b a c k of t h e a n i m a l w e r e c o n d u c t e d u s i n g a T y p e 5 7 6 - F 3 0 m e r i d i a n f i n d e r . A r e f e r e n c e e l e c t r o d e w a s p l a c e d o n t h e s c a p h a of t h e left e a r . T h e p r o b i n g e l e c t r o d e w a s p l a c e d o n t h e skin at t h e m i d - s a g i t t a l p l a n e of t h e b a c k a n d was slid l a t e r a l l y a l o n g t h e skin for a d i s t a n c e of 7 c m . M e a s u r e m e n t s w e r e t a k e n r a n d o m l y f r o m t h e a r e a of t h e c r a n i a l s c a p u l a t o a p o i n t 3 c m c a u d a l t o t h e a c u p u n c t u r e p o i n t Bai-hui (in t h e d e p r e s s i o n b e t w e e n t h e s p i n o u s p r o c e s s e s L 6 a n d S 1 ) . A d e c r e a s e of m o r e t h a n 4 u A in t h e r e a d i n g w a s r e c o r d e d as s i g n a l l i n g a l o w i m p e d a n c e s i t e ( L I S ) . A l l L I S s w e r e m a r k e d a n d c o n s i d e r e d as f o r m i n g a l o w i m p e d a n c e line ( L I L ) . Measurement of the high percussion sound line

T h i s m e a s u r e m e n t w a s p e r f o r m e d in t h e s a m e a r e a a n d in t h e s a m e m a n n e r as t h e L I L experiment, except that the probing electrode was replaced by a tapping h a m m e r designed by the authors. T h e acoustic emission generated by the h a m m e r was detected b y a u s c u l a t i o n o r b y a f o u r - c h a n n e l c a r d i a c m o n i t o r ( T y p e B Y S - 1 4 A ) . P o s i t i v e sites w e r e d e t e r m i n e d b y l i s t e n i n g (by s k i l l e d r e s e a r c h e r ) , t h e n m a r k e d a n d m e a s u r e d , a n d c o n s i d e r e d as f o r m i n g a high p e r c u s s i o n s o u n d line ( H P S L ) . M e a s u r e m e n t of LILs o n t h e b o d y surface along t w e l v e major meridians T h r e e d o n k e y s w e r e u s e d in t h i s study. T h e b o d y s u r f a c e o n o n e s i d e of t h e t r u n k , a n d o n t h e m e d i a l a n d l a t e r a l sides of all four l i m b s w a s s h a v e d a n d c l e a n e d p r i o r t o t h e e x p e r i m e n t . W h e n t h e b o d y s u r f a c e w a s t h o r o u g h l y dry, m e a s u r e m e n t of t h e L I L s was p e r f o r m e d u s i n g a T y p e 5 7 6 - F 3 0 m e r i d i a n f i n d e r w i t h a f r e q u e n c y of 6 5 + 5 H z . A r e f e r e n c e e l e c t r o d e w a s c o a t e d with 0 . 9 % N a C l s o l u t i o n a n d fixed o n t h e s c a p h a of t h e left ear. T h e p r o b i n g e l e c t r o d e w a s p l a c e d p e r p e n d i c u l a r l y o n t h e skin a n d slid f r o m o n e s i d e t o o t h e r . A d r o p in r e a d i n g of m o r e t h a n 4 A w a s t a k e n as s i g n a l l i n g a n L I S . All LISs were m a r k e d and m e a s u r e d . O n e d o n k e y was m e a s u r e d repeatedly four times. Scanning diagram of electrical signal and percussion s o u n d F i v e m i n i a t u r e s w i n e a n d five cats w e r e u s e d in this study. M e a s u r e m e n t of t h e L I L was conducted using b o t h the Type M A - 1 0 0 2 A G R S B R I D G E a n d 576-F30 meridian f i n d e r s . T h e p r o b i n g e l e c t r o d e w a s p l a c e d o n t h e s k i n s u r f a c e at t h e m i d - l i n e of t h e b a c k a n d w a s slid b i l a t e r a l l y . T h e m e a s u r e m e n t of t h e H P S L w a s p e r f o r m e d f o l l o w i n g t h e m e t h o d d e s c r i b e d a b o v e . T h e electrical signal a n d a c o u s t i c e m i s s i o n w e r e d e t e c t e d and r e c o r d e d b y a f o u r - c h a n n e l physiological r e c o r d e r ( T y p e B Y S - 1 4 A ) . M e a s u r e m e n t of LISs at the Qiang-feng acupoint and four adjacent sites

E i g h t r a b b i t s w e r e u s e d in t h i s s t u d y . T h e a n i m a l s w e r e k e p t in a r o o m a t a t e m p e r a t u r e of 22-28C a n d 8 0 - 8 4 % h u m i d i t y . L I S m e a s u r e m e n t w a s c o n d u c t e d using a T y p e M A - 1 0 0 2 A G S R B R I D G E m e r i d i a n finder. A r e f e r e n c e e l e c t r o d e w a s p l a c e d on

929 t h e s c a p h a of t h e r i g h t ear. T h e p r o b i n g e l e c t r o d e w a s slid p e r p e n d i c u l a r l y o n t h e s k i n at t h e Qiang-feng a c u p o i n t a n d f o u r a d j a c e n t sites. T h e s e sites a r e s i t u a t e d as follows: Qiang-feng: in t h e l a r g e d e p r e s s i o n c a u d a l t o t h e s h o u l d e r j o i n t U p p e r site: 1 c m d o r s a l t o Qiang-feng L o w e r site: 1 c m v e n t r a l t o Qiang-feng C r a n i a l site: 1 c m c r a n i a l t o Qiang-feng C a u d a l site: 1 c m c a u d a l t o Qiang-feng.

T h e m e a s u r e m e n t of L I S s w a s p e r f o r m e d continuously 32 t i m e s o n e a c h a n i m a l from 8 h prior t o a n a e s t h e s i a t o 8 h following a n a e s t h e s i a , w i t h o n e m e a s u r e m e n t e v e r y half h o u r . E a c h r a b b i t c o u l d b e m e a s u r e d r e p e a t e d l y after a n i n t e r v a l of s e v e r a l d a y s . A t o t a l of 684 m e a s u r e m e n t s w a s m a d e at Qiang-feng a n d 2,592 m e a s u r e m e n t s at o t h e r sites.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

M e a s u r e m e n t o f electricity a n d s o u n d a l o n g t h e b a c k r e g i o n o f t h e urinary b l a d d e r meridian in various species of animal In all a n i m a l s t e s t e d , t w o L I L s a n d t w o H P S L s w e r e f o u n d o n e a c h side. T h e r a t e of LILs identified p e r r a n d o m m e a s u r e m e n t r a n g e d from 97.84% to 99.58%, a n d the rate of H P S L s r a n g e d f r o m 9 6 . 9 6 % t o 9 9 . 4 8 % ( T a b l e I ) . T h e l o c a t i o n of L I L s w a s f o u n d t o be l a r g e l y c o i n c i d e n t w i t h t h e H P S L s ( 9 8 . 0 0 - 9 9 . 4 9 % c o i n c i d e n c e r a t e ) . M o r e o v e r , t h e l o c a t i o n of b o t h L I L s a n d H P S L s is s i m i l a r t o t h e p a t h of t h e b a c k r e g i o n s i n t h e t r a d i t i o n a l u r i n a r y b l a d d e r m e r i d i a n . T h e s e r e s u l t s d e m o n s t r a t e t h e e x i s t e n c e of m e r i d i a n s in different s p e c i e s of a n i m a l s . M e a s u r e m e n t of LILs along t w e l v e m a j o r meridians T w e l v e L I L s w e r e i d e n t i f i e d o n t h e b o d y s u r f a c e of t h e t r u n k in all t h r e e d o n k e y s . T h e l o c a t i o n of t h e t w e l v e L I L s w a s r e l a t i v e l y s t a b l e a n d w a s largely c o i n c i d e n t w i t h t h e p a t h of t h e m e r i d i a n s d e s c r i b e d for h o r s e s (4).
TABLE I

Measurement

and coincidence of low impedance lines (LILs) and high sound lines (HPSLs) in various species of animals Measurement of LILs Measurement of HPSLs

percussion

Species

No. of animals

No. of lines measured *

No. of lines Positive sites measured * Positive sites No. (%) 98.85 98.96 98.80 97.84 98.99 99.58 520 240 374 510 544 966 No. 1,022 473 729 989 1,082 1,922 (%) 98.27 98.54 97.46 96.96 99.45 99.48

Coincidence LIL/HPSL No. 1,002 466 727 984 (%) 98.00 98.50 99.72 99.49

Sheep Goats Beijing swine Miniature swine Cats Donkeys

12 10 3 10 11 7

520 240 374 510 544 953

1,028 475 739 998 1,077 1,898

* lines were measured randomly

930 S c a n n i n g d i a g r a m o f electrical signal for L I L s a n d v o l u m e o f p e r c u s s i o n s o u n d for HPSLs U s i n g a T y p e M A - 1 0 0 2 A G R S B R I D G E m e r i d i a n finder, 336 L I S s ( 9 8 . 8 2 % ) w e r e d e t e c t e d in five m i n i a t u r e s w i n e , a n d 3 0 6 L I S s ( 9 8 . 1 0 % ) w e r e d e t e c t e d in five c a t s . U s i n g a T y p e 5 7 6 - F 3 0 m e r i d i a n finder, 338 L I S s ( 9 9 . 4 0 % ) w e r e d e t e c t e d in five s w i n e , a n d 305 L I S s (97.78%) in five c a t s . T h e d i f f e r e n c e in t h e n u m b e r s of L I S s m e a s u r e d by t h e t w o m e t h o d s w a s n o t significant ( P > 0 . 0 5 ) . S c a n n i n g d i a g r a m s of t h e e l e c t r i c a l s i g n a l for L I L s w e r e r e c o r d e d i n a m i n i a t u r e s w i n e a n d a c a t ( F i g s 1 a n d 2 ) . S t r o n g a c o u s t i c s i g n a l s o b t a i n e d f r o m H P S L s in a m i n i a t u r e s w i n e a n d a cat a r e s h o w n in F i g u r e s 3 a n d 4.

FIG.1

Scanning diagram of electrical signal for a l o w i m p e d a n c e line in a miniature swine T h e electrical signal was r e c o r d e d by a four-channel physiological recorder, operating at 2.5 mm/s

FIG.

Scanning diagram o f electrical signal for a l o w i m p e d a n c e line in a cat T h e electrical signal was r e c o r d e d by a four-channel physiological recorder, operating at 2.0 mm/s

M e a s u r e m e n t of LISs at the Qiang-feng

acupoint and four adjacent sites

I n e i g h t r a b b i t s , a t o t a l of 648 a c u p o i n t s a n d 2,592 n o n - a c u p o i n t s w a s t e s t e d . T h e resistance v a l u e at 2,102 (81.1%) n o n - a c u p o i n t s was g r e a t e r t h a n at a c u p o i n t s , while r e s i s t a n c e a t 4 9 0 ( 1 8 . 9 % ) sites w a s e q u a l t o o r less t h a n r e s i s t a n c e a t a c u p o i n t s . T h u s , a c u p u n c t u r e p o i n t s w e r e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y of l o w i m p e d a n c e . W i t h r e g a r d t o m e a s u r e m e n t s b o t h a t Qiang-feng a n d at t h e f o u r a d j a c e n t sites b e f o r e a n a e s t h e s i a , t h e h i g h e s t a n d l o w e s t v a l u e s of electrical c u r r e n t w e r e r e c o r d e d at 5 p m a n d a t 1 a m , r e s p e c t i v e l y . A f t e r a n a e s t h e s i a , t h e v a l u e of e l e c t r i c a l c u r r e n t decreased consistently over the 8 h period.

931

FIG.

Strong acoustic signals o b t a i n e d from a high percussion s o u n d line in a miniature swine T h e acoustic signal w a s r e c o r d e d by a four-channel physiological recorder, o p e r a t i n g at 2.5 m m / s

M
FIG.

Strong acoustic signals o b t a i n e d from a high percussion s o u n d line in a cat T h e acoustic signal was r e c o r d e d by a four-channel physiological recorder, o p e r a t i n g at 2.0 m m / s

CONCLUSION
T w o L I L s a n d t w o H P S L s w e r e i d e n t i f i e d o n e a c h s i d e of t h e b a c k r e g i o n of t h e u r i n a r y b l a d d e r m e r i d i a n in s h e e p , g o a t s , B e i j i n g s w i n e , m i n i a t u r e s w i n e , c a t s a n d d o n k e y s . T h e l o c a t i o n of t h e H P S L s w a s basically c o i n c i d e n t w i t h t h a t of t h e L I L s . B o t h L I L s a n d H P S L s w e r e p a r a l l e l a n d s y m m e t r i c a l t o t h e m i d - l i n e of t h e b a c k . T h e l o c a t i o n of b o t h L I L s a n d H P S L s w a s r e l a t i v e l y s t a b l e , a n d w a s similar t o t h e p a t h of t r a d i t i o n a l

932 meridians. These results demonstrate that the meridians c h a r a c t e r i s t i c a l l y of l o w i m p e d a n c e a n d h i g h p e r c u s s i o n s o u n d . in animals are

T w e l v e L I L s w e r e i d e n t i f i e d o n t h e b o d y s u r f a c e i n d o n k e y s . T h e l o c a t i o n of t h e L I L s w a s r e l a t i v e l y s t a b l e a n d l a r g e l y c o i n c i d e n t w i t h t h e p a t h of t h e u r i n a r y b l a d d e r m e r i d i a n d e s c r i b e d in h o r s e s . U n d e r n o r m a l c o n d i t i o n s , t h e r e s i s t a n c e v a l u e at t h e a c u p o i n t Qiang-feng in r a b b i t s w a s l o w e r t h a n at n o n - a c u p o i n t s . W h e n t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l r a b b i t s w e r e a n a e s t h e t i s e d , t h e r e s i s t a n c e v a l u e of b o t h a c u p o i n t s a n d n o n - a c u p o i n t s d e c r e a s e d . H o w e v e r , d u r i n g this p e r i o d , t h e r e s i s t a n c e v a l u e a t a c u p o i n t s r e m a i n e d l o w e r t h a n at n o n - a c u p o i n t s .

*
* *
CARACTRISTIQUES DES MRIDIENS ET POINTS D ' A C U P U N C T U R E CHEZ LES A N I M A U X . - C. Yu, K. Zhang, G. Lu, J. Xu, H. Xie, Z. Lui, Y. Wang et J. Zhu. Rsum : Depuis quelques annes, de plus en plus d'tudes sont consacres aux caractristiques biophysiques des mridiens et points d'acupuncture chez l'homme et l'animal. L'objet de cet article est d'apporter une dmonstration supplmentaire de l'existence objective et de la topographie superficielle des mridiens chez plusieurs espces animales. L'exprience, dont les rsultats sont prsents, portait sur douze moutons, dix chvres, treize porcs, onze chats, huit lapins et sept nes. Elle a consist mesurer les lignes de faible impdance (LIL ou low i m p e d a n c e lines) et les lignes son de percussion lev (HPSL ou high p e r c u s s i o n s o u n d lines) sur l'piderme de ces animaux, le long des plans verticaux de la ligne dorsale, l'aide d'impulsions lectriques et de sons de percussion levs. M O T S - C L S : Acupuncture - Biophysique - Mdecine traditionnelle Mridiens.

* * *
C A R A C T E R S T I C A S D E LOS M E R I D I A N O S Y P U N T O S D E A C U P U N T U R A E N LOS A N I M A L E S . - C. Yu, K. Zhang, G. Lu, J. Xu, H. Xie, Z. Lui, Y. Wang y J. Zhu. Resumen: Desde hace algunos aos, se estn llevando a cabo, cada vez ms, estudios sobre las caractersticas biofsicas de los meridianos y puntos de acupuntura tanto en el hombre como en los animales. Los autores intentan mostrar en este artculo la existencia objetiva y las localizaciones superficiales de stos en varias especies animales. Lo que presentan son resultados de una experiencia realizada a partir de doce ovinos, diez cabras, trece cerdos, once gatos, ocho conejos y seis asnos, experiencia en la que se trataron de medir las lneas de baja impedancia (LIL o low i m p e d a n c e lines) y las lneas de sonidos de percusin altos (HPSL o high percussion s o u n d lines) en la epidermis de los animales. Se trabaj a lo largo de los planos verticales de la lnea dorsal con impulsos elctricos y con sonidos de percusin altos. P A L A B R A S C L A V E : A c u p u n t u r a - Biofsica - M e d i c i n a t r a d i c i o n a l Meridianos.

***

933

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