Can peri-surgical electroacupuncture relieve immunity suppression? A pilot study in dogs

General anesthesia and surgical stress can suppress the immunological response by acting both directly on the immune system and indirectly on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. Disturbance of the immune system during the perioperative period can lead to complications such as wound-healing disorders and infections up to sepsis. Effectiveness of acupuncture in regulating the immune function by increasing leukocyte numbers and inhibiting inflammatory response has been proven. This study aimed to explore the impact of electroacupuncture (EAP) on the dynamic balance of the immune system and immune cell populations in dogs undergoing surgery. Twelve healthy bitches scheduled for elective ovariectomy were divided into two groups according to whether (EAP, n=6) or not (CTR, n=6) a peri-operative electroacupuncture treatment was performed. Levels of leukocytes (neutrophils, monocytes, T- and B-cells) and immunoglobulins M (IgM) and A (IgA) were measured in blood samples collected before (T0), 1 h (T1) and 2.5 h (T2) after anesthesia induction. Leukocytes count decreased from T0 to T1 in both groups and restored within 1.5 h in EAP group whereas remained significantly lower in CTR group (P<0.02). In particular, neutrophils and monocytes increased in dogs receiving EAP (P<0.01) while T-cells decreased in CTR group (P<0.04) at T2. B-cells and cytotoxic T-cells decreased in EAP dogs (P<0.04) at T2. No differences in helper T-cells, IgM and IgA levels were recorded between groups and over time. Our results suggest a modulatory effect of EAP on the immune system which is early expressed on neutrophils, monocytes and T-cells.