[Studies on the relationship between acupuncture analgesia and testosterone or dihydrotestosterone in blood plasma]

55 rats (Wistar, Male, 250-350 g) were divided into 4 groups: (1) BTA (bilateral testectomy + adrenalectomy) group, (2) BT (bilateral testectomy) group, (3) BA (bilateral adrenalectomy) group, (4) SO (sham operation) group. EA was applied to bilateral "Tsusanli" points of each animal at 72 h. after operation. The potassium iontophoretic colorimetry was used to determine the pain threshold of rats, radioimmunoassay was used to measure the contents of T and DHT in femoral vein blood. T, DHT and the pain threshold of each animal were measured before operation, at 72 h, after operation and after EA, but for the SO group the measurement was done once at 72 h. after im testosterone phenylacetate.

The content of T in BTA and BT groups were decreased. significantly at 72 h. after operation, but the changes of the pain threshold were similar to BA and SO groups. After EA the content of T in BT and SO groups were raised significantly (P less than 0.01), but in BT group raised slightly (P greater than 0.05). It was found in all animals that the content of DHT and the pain threshold were significantly elevated at 45 min after EA. No effect upon the pain threshold and EA analgesia was observed in SO group after im testosterone phenylacetate.

T (from testes and adrenal) and DHT rose markedly after EA. Increasing T and DHT or decreasing T in plasma had no effect upon the pain threshold and EA analgesia. It is suggested that T and DHT in plasma may not play a role in the EA analgesia, in the other hand, EA may be used for improving the hypogonadal condition.