[Role of animal experiment in acupuncture translational medicine]

The basic biological research of acupuncture originates from clinical practice and serves clinical application. It is the fundamental idea of "acupuncture translational medicine". The animal experiment is indispensable in acupuncture translational medicine, which contributes to simplifying the complex factors affecting the clinical efficacy of acupuncture, observing the effect of the nociceptive stimuli and obtaining the invasive and off-body biomarkers. Focusing on animal experiment, the basic biological research can objectively reveal the structure and function of acupoints, obtain the parameters required by different stimulation methods and clarify the material basis which acupuncture works, so as to provide the references and evidences for acupoint combination and the selection of appropriate stimulation in clinical practice, as well as the development of medical instruments and new drugs.