Figure 3.

Comparisons of acupuncture procedures on concentrations of adenosine, AMP, ADP, and ATP. (A) Experimental design. One microdialysis probe was inserted in a leg where acupuncture was applied, and a second microdialysis probe was inserted in the opposite leg to simultaneously collect samples while the other leg received acupuncture. (B). Increase in the interstitial concentration of adenosine, AMP, ADP, and ATP before and after acupuncture simultaneously collected from acupuncture-receiving legs and untreated opposite legs (n = 5–11; mean ± SD; *p < .05 compared to baseline). (C) Changes in concentrations of purines from acupuncture-receiving legs and untreated opposite legs, normalized by their respective baseline values (baseline was set to 100%; n = 5–11; mean ± SEM; *p < .05 compared to baseline; #p < .05 compared to acupuncture side). (D) Experimental design. Each subject received either acupuncture needle insertion but the needle was left untouched without intermittent rotations during 30 minutes, or acupuncture needle insertion with rotations but the needle was inserted outside the Zusanli acupoint. (E) Comparison of effects of acupuncture with acupuncture needle insertion without rotating needle, or acupuncture needle insertion at non-acupoint. Changes in concentration from their respective baseline values (right panel, baseline set to 0 nM) and changes in concentration normalized by their respective baseline values (left panel, baseline set to 100%. n = 5; mean ± SEM; *p < .05 compared to baseline; #p < .05 compared to mechanical acupuncture). (F) Subjects gently moved their ankle during sample collection to flex the tibialis muscle. Muscular movement while the microdialysis probe was implanted caused large increases of purines in the tissue (baseline set to 0 μM. n = 5; mean ± SEM; #p < .05 compared to mechanical acupuncture).