사람에서와 같이 개에서도 안면신경마비가 발생되지만, 특발성 원인에 의한 안면신경마비에 대한 유용한 서양의학적 치료 방법이 없는 실정이다. 따라서 개 안면신경마비에 대한 약침의 치료 효과를 알아보기 위하여 인공 유발된 개 안면신경마비에 대하여 약침의 효과를 실험하였다. 안면신경마비가 인공적으로 유발된 12두의 개는 대조군(4두), 덱사메타손 투여군(4두) 및 봉독 투여군(4두)로 나누어 공시하였다. 안면신경마비 유발 후 대조군은 식염수 1ml을 머리 근육에 일주일에 두 번 근육주사 하였다. 반면에 덱사메타손 투여군과 봉독 투여군은 합곡, 영향, 사백, 하관, 예풍, 권료, 상관 및 양릉천 혈위에 각각 덱사메타손과 봉독을 일주일에 두 번 약침하였다. 실험 기간 동안 안면신경마비에 대한 임상증상과 혈중 creatine kinase(CK) 활성의 변화를 각각 검토하였다. 임상증상은 치료 14일에 봉독 투여군과 덱사메타손 투여군이 대조군에 비하여 유의성 있는 저치를 보였으나 봉독 투여군과 덱사메타손 투여군 간에는 유의성이 인정되지 않았다. 혈중 CK 활성의 변화는 치료 7일 및 14일에 봉독 투여군과 덱사메타손 투여군이 대조군에 비하여 유의성 있는 저치를 보였으나, 봉독 투여군과 덱사메타손 투여군 간에는 유의성이 인정되지 않았다. 따라서 개 안면신경마비의 치료에 봉독과 덱사메타손 약침이 효과적이었으며, 그 효과는 유사한 것으로 판단되었다.
Although canine facial nerve paralysis(FNP) occurs similarly in humans, there is no properly recognized therapy using Western medicine for idiopathic causes. To elucidate therapeutic measures by acupuncture(AP) on canine FNP, we examined the therapeutic effect of injection-AP on the artificially induced canine FNP. Twelve dogs on artificially induced canine FNP were divided into a control group(4 dogs), an experimental dexamethasone-treated group(dexamethasone group, 4 dogs) and an experimental bee venom-treated group(apitoxin group, 4 dogs). Saline (1 ml) was intramuscularly injected into the head muscle after the induction of FNP in the control group. On the other hand, injection-AP with dexamethasone was performed on such acupoints as LI04, LI20, ST02, ST07, TH17, SI18, GB03 and GB34, twice per week after induction of FNP in the dexamethasone group. In addition, injection-AP with $100{mu}g$ of apitoxin was performed on the same acupoints as the dexamethasone group twice per week after the induction of FNP in the apitoxin group, respectively. The changes of the clinical symptoms of FNP with each treatment during the experimental period were recorded by using clinical scores, respectively. The changes of serum creatine kinase(CK) activities along with each treatment were determined using an autoanalyzer. The significant differences of clinical scores were detected on day 14(p<0.05) in the apitoxin and dexamethasone groups, compared with those in the control group, respectively. However, significant difference was not detected between the apitoxin and dexamethasone groups. Significant differences of serum CK activities were detected on day 7(p<0.05) and day 14(p<0.05) in the dexamethasone and apitoxin groups, compared with those in the control group, respectively. However, significant difference was not detected between the dexamethasone and apitoxin groups. In condition, injection-APs with apitoxin and dexamethasone were all effective for treatment of canine FNP and the therapeutic effect by injection-AP with apitoxin was similar to that of injection-AP with dexamethasone.
