Comparison of substance P concentration in acupuncture points in different tissues in dogs

Histologically, acupuncture points show neuronal innervation. One hundred seventy-seven tissue samples of acupuncture points and control points from 4 dogs were collected. Concentrations of substance P, a neurotransmitter, in the skin, muscle and subcutis of acupuncture points and control points were measured by means of enzyme immunoassay. The determined tissue concentrations of substance P (mean ±SEM) in acupuncture points and control points were 1.81 ±0.13 and 1.51 ±0.1 ng/g in the muscle, 3.33 plus 0.29 and 2.63 ±0.28 ng/g in the skin and 1.59 ±0.22 and 1.32 ±0.16 ng/g in the subcutis, respectively. The results indicate that there is a difference in the neurochemical profile between acupuncture points and control points. ? 1998 Institute for Advanced Research in Asian Science and Medicine.