Effects of Electroacupuncture on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Emesis in Ferrets.

摘要

Nausea and vomiting are severe side-effects often associated with cancer chemotherapy and may affect treatment decisions. In order to examine the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) on the emetogenic effect of cyclophosphamide a commonly used chemotherapy agent for breast cancer, ferrets (1.0-2.0 kg) were placed under general anesthesia (isoflurane 5%-oxygen mixture) and were administered logarithmic doses of i.v. cyclophosphamide. A dose of 177 mg/kg produced the maximal number of emetic episodes (23.3+4.0 episodes) with an emetic profile consisting of two phases (first phase 18.8+3.9 episodes;second phase 4.7+1.2 episodes). For treatment, EA was given under general anesthesia followed by i.v. cyclophosphamide (177mg/kg). Various parameters were evaluated and the results indicated that EA (100Hz,1.5V,10 min) effectively treated the first emetic phase induced by cyclophosphamide (9.3+1.8 episodes for the first phase), an effect similar to the antiemetic drug ondansetron. Studies using combination therapy of EA with ondansetron (0.04mg/kg) or metoclopramide (2. 24mg/kg) showed a significant reduction in the total number of emetic episodes (p<=0.05;p<=0.005 respectively).