[Prevention of a stress-induced drop in the threshold of cardiac fibrillation using transauricular electroacupuncture]

The effect of electroacupuncture on stress-induced drop in cardiac fibrillation threshold and catecholamine content in the adrenergic terminals of the myocardium was studied in Wistar rats. Transauricular electroacupuncture causing drowsiness in animals was found to prevent a drop in cardiac fibrillation and norepinephrine level in the adrenergic terminals usually observed after long immobilization stress. It is assumed that the preventive effect of acupuncture may be attributable to reflex activation of the inhibitory brain system which restricts stress reaction.