Age Differences in Naloxone Reversibility of Electroacupuncture on the Jaw Opening Reflex in Rats

BackgroundElectroacupuncture is one of the most popular physical treatments for clinical pain, but the potential influence of a patient's age on the effectiveness of electroacupuncture treatment has not been clearly established. Objectives: The present study aimed to detect a potential difference in electroacupuncture- induced analgesia between juvenile and adult rats. MethodsIn this study, we investigated the effects of electroacupuncture treatment on the nociceptive jaw-opening reflex evoked by tooth-pulp stimulation in juvenile and adult rats. ResultsOur results showed there were age differences in electroacupuncture-induced analgesic effects in rats, especially with naloxone antagonization. The ratio of naloxonereversibility against electroacupuncture analgesia was greater in adult rats than in juvenile rats. ConclusionThese results suggest that electroacupuncture analgesia is produced mainly by the non-opioid system in juvenile rats and by the opioid system in adult rats.