Effects of Zusanli and Ashi Acupoint Electroacupuncture on Repair of Skeletal Muscle and Neuromuscular Junction in a Rabbit Gastrocnemius Contusion Model

Figure 1

Outline of rabbit restraint and electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation. A specially designed fixator was applied to restrain the rabbits undergoing EA (a). A schematic diagram showing EA stimulation at ST36 and Ashi acupoints (b). ST 36 is located between the tibia and fibula, approximately 12 mm beneath the fibulae capitulum. Acupuncture needles were inserted perpendicularly as deep as 15 mm at left ST36 (anode) and 5 mm away from that (cathode) and kept in place. Another pair of acupuncture needles were inserted into the Ashi acupoints of right hindlimb at a depth of 15 mm, which were located 10 mm from the proximal (anode) and distal (cathode) end of the contusion midpoint. Each of the paired needles was then subjected to a current (0.4 mA, 2 Hz, 15 min) by Han’s acupoint nerve stimulator.

(a)

(b)