Electroacupuncture, Immunity and Autonomic Nervous System in Rats

We’ve seen a number of studies on acupuncture and the immune system and its effect on cellular immunity(Nerve growth factor and electroacupuncture), moxabustion and cytokine production, basophils and acupuncture for eczema, and some theoretical studies on stress and immunity but I don’t recall seeing a paper drawing the specific connection between the autonomic nervous system and improved immunity. In rats no less… (Information about my practice here.)

Anesthesiology. 2012 Feb;116(2):406-14.
Electroacupuncture improves survival in rats with lethal endotoxemia via the autonomic nervous system.
Song JG, Li HH, Cao YF, Lv X, Zhang P, Li YS, Zheng YJ, Li Q, Yin PH, Song SL, Wang HY, Wang XR.
Department of Anesthesiology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Recent advances have indicated a complex interplay between the autonomic nervous system and the innate immune system. Targeting neural networks for the treatment of sepsis is being developed as a therapeutic strategy. Because electroacupuncture at select acupoints can modulate activities of the autonomic nervous system, we tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture at specific acupoints could modulate systemic inflammatory responses and improve survival via its impact on the autonomic nervous system in a rat model of sepsis.
METHODS:

Sprague-Dawley male rats received electroacupuncture for 45 min before and at 1, 2, or 4 h after a lethal dose of intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide injection (6 mg/kg). Outcomes included survival and systemic cytokine responses. Also, the possible roles of neural circuitry, including the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the autonomic nervous system, were evaluated.
RESULTS:
Electroacupuncture pretreatment at the Hegu acupoints significantly attenuate systemic inflammatory responses and improve survival rate from 20% to 80% in rats with lethal endotoxemia. Such a site-specific effect requires the activation of muscarinic receptors in the central nervous system, but not increasing central sympathetic tone. In the periphery synergistic, rather than independent, action of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems is also necessary.
CONCLUSIONS:
Electroacupuncture pretreatment has a dramatic survival-enhancing effect in rats with lethal endotoxemia, which involves the activation of efferent neural circuits of the autonomic nervous system (e.g., cholinergic antiinflammatory pathway). This approach could be developed as a prophylactic treatment for sepsis or perioperative conditions related to excessive inflammation.