Neurophysiology & Mechanisms of Acupuncture Action Flashcards

Acupuncture's net effect on the autonomic nervous system in chronic pain states typically results in:

Answer: Increased parasympathetic tone and normalization of sympathetic hyperactivity

Acupuncture generally restores autonomic balance by enhancing parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) tone and dampening chronic sympathetic hyperactivity associated with pain and stress states.

How does acupuncture modulate Substance P in the context of chronic pain management?

Answer: It can reduce elevated Substance P levels, thereby decreasing neurogenic inflammation and central sensitization

Acupuncture has been shown to reduce elevated Substance P concentrations in chronic pain states, attenuating its pro-inflammatory and pro-nociceptive effects in peripheral tissues and the spinal cord.

Stimulation of acupuncture point ST-36 (Zusanli) in dogs activates which specific anti-inflammatory mechanism?

Answer: The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway via vagus nerve activation

ST-36 stimulation activates the vagus nerve's cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, which inhibits macrophage release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) systemically.

What role do mast cells play in the neurophysiology of acupuncture point stimulation?

Answer: Mast cells degranulate upon needle insertion, releasing histamine and heparin that activate local afferent nerve fibers

Mast cells, concentrated at acupuncture point locations, degranulate in response to needle insertion, releasing bioactive mediators that activate local afferent C and A-delta fibers to initiate acupuncture signaling.

Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide (CGRP) is significant in veterinary acupuncture neurophysiology primarily because:

Answer: It mediates local vasodilation and participates in neurogenic inflammation modulation at acupuncture sites

CGRP released from sensory nerve terminals at acupuncture sites promotes local vasodilation and modulates the neurogenic inflammatory response, influencing both local tissue effects and afferent signaling.

Acupuncture's modulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis results in which clinically relevant effect?

Answer: Normalization of stress hormone levels and reduction of chronic HPA axis hyperactivation

Acupuncture helps normalize HPA axis dysregulation by reducing excessive cortisol and ACTH secretion in chronically stressed or pain-sensitized animals, restoring homeostatic stress responses.

Central sensitization, which veterinary acupuncture aims to reverse, is best defined as:

Answer: Heightened excitability of dorsal horn neurons resulting in amplified and expanded pain signaling

Central sensitization involves increased excitability of spinal cord dorsal horn neurons, manifesting as hyperalgesia, allodynia, and expanded receptive fields, which acupuncture can help reverse through neuroplastic mechanisms.