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Science 14 September 1984:
Vol. 225. no. 4667, pp. 1172 - 1174
DOI: 10.1126/science.6089344
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Articles

Science, Vol 225, Issue 4667, 1172-1174
Copyright © 1984 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

The twitch in horses: a variant of acupuncture

E Lagerweij, PC Nelis, VM Wiegant, and JM van Ree

The twitch procedure in horses attenuates the increase in the heart rate evoked by pain-inducing stimuli and the reaction of the animals to such stimuli. Endorphin systems are probably involved in the effectiveness of the twitch, since its action is blocked by naloxone and its application increases plasma concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin. The mode of action of the twitch cannot be explained by the generally accepted theory of divertive pain and may resemble that of classical acupuncture.




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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)