Finding Blue Tracks in Gephyrocharax melanocheir Fish Similar to the Locations of Acupuncture Meridians after Injecting Alcian Blue

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine in Zoological and Exotic Animal Medicine: A Review and Introduction of Methods

Acupuncture has been used extensively in domestic animal medicine to treat a variety of medical conditions and diseases as an adjunct or primary therapy. Exotic animals are becoming increasingly common as pets. Owners are expecting therapies for these non-domestic animals to be similar to those available to their other domestic pets. Additionally, zoological and aquatic facilities provide medical care for the entire lives of the animals that are housed in their facilities. Many conditions similar to those observed in domestic animals can develop in zoological species and can benefit from treatment with acupuncture. Through operant conditioning or routine medical examinations, the use of acupuncture as an adjunct therapy is becoming more common. The following paper presents a summary of the types of non-domestic animals treated, for which conditions, and how these methods are commonly used.

Is There Volume Transmission Along Extracellular Fluid Pathways Corresponding to the Acupuncture Meridians?

Volume transmission is a new major communication signaling via extracellular fluid (interstitial fluid) pathways. It was proposed by the current authors that such pathways can explain the meridian phenomena and acupuncture effects. To investigate whether meridian-like structures exist in fish body and operate via volume transmission in extracellular fluid pathways, we injected alcian blue (AB) under anesthesia into Gephyrocharax melanocheir, which has a translucent body. The migration of AB could be seen directly and was recorded by a digital camera. The fish was then embedded and cut transversely to observe the position of tracks in three dimensions. Eight longitudinal threadlike blue tracks were recognized on the fish. The positions of these threadlike tracks were similar to meridians on the human body. Transverse sections showed that these tracks distributed to different layers of distinct subcutaneous loose connective tissues and intermuscular septa. Lymphatic vessels were sometimes associated with the extracellular blue tracks where the migration of AB occurred. Extracellular fluid pathways were found on fish through their transport of AB. These pathways operating via volume transmission appeared to be similar in positions and functions to the acupuncture meridians in Chinese medicine.