Effects of electroacupuncture on the jaw opening reflex were investigated in rats under pentobarbital anesthesia.
The reflex response was elicited by electrical stimulation of the tooth pulp. The EMG's were recorded from the digastric muscles through the cathode ray oscilloscope. Single electroacupuncture stimulation was given to the abdominal area, back and limbs, respectively. The electroacupuncture showed inhibitory effects on the jaw opening reflex, which lasted from about 30msec to 200msec after the stimulation, having the maximum effect from 50msec to 100msec. The inhibitory effects were the most remarkable in foreleg stimulation.
