Introduction: Acupuncture is a well-established method of improving human health, but acupuncture of the tongue is not as often practiced as corporal.
Aim: The aim of the present study is to develop a methodology for acupuncture on rat tongue to trace possible complications from this technique, as well as morphological changes as a prerequisite for the effect.
Materials and Methods: A total of 24 male Wistar rats between 20 days and 2 years of age were the subject of study. The animals were divided into two groups, equal in number. One group being a control and the other one an experimental group for acupuncture of the tongue. After anesthesia with xylazine and ketamine, an acupuncture needle (0.22x13mm) was applied for 10 minutes, then the animal was perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer (pH 7.36) and the body of the tongue was extracted. The acupuncture needle was placed in 3 standard points on the sagittal plane, in the areas of the heart and stomach on the upper surface, and the neck area on the lower surface. The following histological stains were used: haematoxylin eosin (HE), bismarck brown (BB), and toluidine blue (TB).
Results: The rats, as experimental animals, were suitable for acupuncture and acupuncture in the experimental group was performed successfully without complications. The acupuncture canal was visualized well in all stains, BB and TB being suitable for reporting the mast cells response.
Conclusion: Acupuncture of a rat tongue can be performed successfully, and the morphological changes that occur as a result of it can be assessed histologically. The needle causes the epithelium and the free nerve endings as well as the underlying muscles to be displaced and disrupted. There is no disruption of large nervous or circulatory structures. There is a prospective combination of acupuncture with sublingual administration of various drugs and biologically active substances.
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