Comparison of Substance P Concentration in Acupuncture Points in Different Tissues in Dogs

Abstract

Histologically, acupuncture points show neuronal innervation. One hundred seventy-seven tissue samples of acupuncture points and control points from 4 dogs were collected. Concentrations of substance P, a neurotransmitter, in the skin, muscle and subcutis of acupuncture points and control points were measured by means of enzyme immunoassay. The determined tissue concentrations of substance P (mean ± SEM) in a acupuncture points and control points were 1.81 ± 0.13 and 1.51 ± 0.1 ng/g in the muscle, 3.33 ± 0.29 and 2.63 ± 0.28 ng/g in the skin and 1.59 ± 0.22 and 1.32 ± 0.16 ng/g in the subcutis, respectively. The results indicate that there is a difference in the neurochemical profile between acupuncture points and control points.