Acupuncture and sensory neuropeptides increase cutaneous blood flow in rats

The effect on blood flow of electro-acupuncture (EA) injection of substance P (SP) and calcitonin generelated peptide (CGRP) was studied in musculocutaneous flaps in the rat, using laser Doppler flowmetry. The circulatory border was estimated before and after treatment. It was shown that treatment with EA increased the blood flow moving the circulatory border distally 66% after a treatment. Injection of NaCl into the dorsal central vein of the flap resulted in no increase in blood flow whereas SP 10 9 M and CGRP 10 9 M increased the blood flow so that the circulatory border moved distally 31% and 49%, respectively. It is suggested that the effect of EA on blood flow is similar to the effect achieved by injecting CGRP and SP.