A New Fixation Method for Acupuncture Treatment in Rats

Summary

Here, we describe a new method of rat fixation that facilitates acupuncture and moxibustion on the back of rats.

Abstract

Researchers always encounter the problem that animals are difficult to control in acupuncture-related animal experiments. There are already some methods to prevent animals from escaping treatment sites. However, the effect of these fixation methods is different from the human treatment state. Therefore, we have invented a new fixation method to keep rats prone, quiet, and awake during treatment.

The equipment consists of a porous plastic restraint platform, a square cotton cloth, and several restraint straps for fixing rats. First, thread the restraint straps into the restraint platform. For each strap, pass it through two holes in the same row, leaving two holes between them. After positioning the first strap, insert the other strap into the platform in the same manner, ensuring a four-row gap between the two straps. Second, grab the rat's tail and guide it into the channel formed by two restraint straps. Cover the rat's head with a square cotton cloth. Third, tighten the restraint strap on the neck to fix the head and forelimbs. Then hold the rat's hind limbs and tighten the other strap to fix the waist and hind limbs.

This method does not require anesthesia. The device is simple and easy to operate. To evaluate its efficacy and safety, we administered the procedure to 60 rats. All of them completed the acupuncture treatment without complications. While 14 rats exhibited brief periods of struggle during the procedure, no adverse effects were observed. The results demonstrate that the method is effective and safe for use.

Introduction

Both surgical modeling and in vitro intervention require appropriate animal fixation methods. This ensures that animals are in the most maneuverable and relatively comfortable position. We focus on the animal fixation method for acupuncture intervention. Acupuncture is effective in treating many diseases^1,2. The study of the acupuncture mechanism has received much attention. At present, acupuncture and moxibustion are hot research topics at home and abroad. The pathological mechanism of acupuncture treatment needs to be further explored, and in addition to clinical experiments, basic research support is also n....

Protocol

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 82205287). The experimental protocols used in this study were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Committee for Animal Experimentation and Use Committee of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (No BUCM-2024052704-2223) before performing experiments. All demonstrated procedures must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC).

Details of the equipment used in the study are listed in the Table of Materials. The protocol can be divided into four sections: experiment preparation, fixing process, treatment operation, and....

Results

To evaluate the effectiveness of the fixation method, we conducted a trial on a total of 60 rats, which were divided into two groups: 30 rats in the electroacupuncture group and 30 rats in the warm acupuncture group. The treatment operations included electroacupuncture and warm acupuncture, respectively.

After inserting needles into acupoints, the acupuncturist performed lifting, thrusting, and rotating manipulations on each needle to achieve deqi. During the procedure, struggling was observed.......

Discussion

Rats tend to inhabit dark environments. They feel secure when sheltered and respond calmly to stimuli, exhibiting lower stress levels. The method described here leverages these rat characteristics. The advantages of this fixation method can be summarized as follows: (i) This method can minimize the stress response and pain experienced by experimental animals. It aligns with the 3R principles of animal ethics, namely Reduction, Refinement, and Replacement¹³. (ii) The shelter reduces rat stress and.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Acupuncture needles	Beijing ZhongYan TaiHe Medical Instrument Co., Ltd.	20222200133	The specifications of the acupuncture needles are 0.25 mm in diameter and 25 mm in length.
Anti-cutting gloves	Lvdazhou Labor Protection Products Factory In Lanshan District, Linyi City	H0315103941	Designed to shield researchers from rat bites during the experiment.
Electroacupuncture instrument	Suzhou Medical Appliance Factory Ltd.	20172200675	This device is employed to carry out electroacupuncture procedures.
Laboratory-grade latex gloves	Zhonghong Pulin Medical Products Co., Ltd.	268237719221	These gloves constitute the fundamental protective measure of the experiment.
Moxa	Beijing Tongrentang Xing'an Health Technology Co., Ltd.	152200000000613	Moxa serves as the material for crafting moxa balls with diameter are 5 mm, which are utilized for subsequent moxibustion therapy.
Porous plastic restraint platform	Chuzhou Huaxin VinyIIndustry Co., Ltd.	341124000005877	The restraint platform is 500 mm in length, 300 mm in width and 5 mm in height. The hole on it are 7 mm in length and 3.2 mm in width. The distance between two adjacent holes is 7 mm. This equipment serves as a platform for fixing rats.
Restraint straps	Zhejiang Litai Plastic Co., Ltd.	331003000001553	Each restraint strap measures 300 mm in length and 4.8 mm in width. The restraint strap are serrated and feature a buckle on their tip, which can be locked after insertion.
Square cotton cloth	MUJI (SHANGHAI) Company Limited	WYLP20241105_1	The square cotton cloth measures 30 cm ´ 30 cm. It is used to block the view of the experimental animals.
Square papers	DELI Group Co., Ltd.	7752-1114	To avert scalding of the rats, reseachers cut some square papers which specification measuring 2 cm ´ 2 cm.
Sterile gauze	Jiangxi Zhonggan Medical Devices Co., Ltd.	20172140084	The sterile gauze is applied to wrap the tail of the rat, ensuring electrical conductivity during the electroacupuncture treatment.