The Medical Acupuncture Web Page

• Using 104 acyclic hybrid (Large White x Landrace) gilts, we studied the efficacy of acupuncture to induce oestrus. We compared the results of aquapuncture (AA, n=20) at acupoints Baihui and Weiken with those of moxa-acupuncture (MA, n=44) at the same points, and with data from untreated control gilts (C, n=40).
• The interval from the start of the trial to oestrus (and mating) in the control (C) and acupuncture-treated (AA+MA) gilts and was 30.8 v 17.6 days, P <0.01). Acupuncture treatment shortened the interval to oestrus (and mating) by 13.2 days (P <0.01).
• The percentages of gilts induced into oestrus within the 28 days after the last treatment in groups C, AA, MA, and (AA+MA) were 57.5, 70.0, 70.4, and 70.3%, respectively. These differences were not significant (P >0.05). Further research, with larger numbers of gilts, is needed to re-examine that finding.

Anoestrus is a common reproductive disorder in replacement gilts. It manifests as an external sign of ovarian inactivity. Farmers on large pig farms define this disorder as a delayed pubertal oestrus, or as a loss of reproductive ability.

Anoestrus in gilts may be due to inadequate nutrition, adverse management regimes during rearing, and adverse housing systems. Anoestrus depends more or less on a genetic variability, or is a result of the influence of all the above mentioned factors (Meredith, 1979). Different types of hormonal treatment have different effects in anoestrous gilts (Dial et al., 1984). Treatment by a combination of PMSG and HCG often succeeds in cases of prepubertal ovaries, but not in cases of functional ovaries (Schilling and Cerne, 1972). In the latter case, the combination may be harmful (Lin et al. 1984).

Hsia & Lee (1988) and Huang (1992) described an acupuncture method to induce oestrus in gilts and sows. Hsia & Lee (1988) reported success rates of 50-70% in gilts treated with this method. According to some scientific reports (Shilling and Cerne 1972; King et al. 1982). The usual success rate with modern hormone treatment is from 70-80%. However , these same treatment results have never been achieved and effectiveness of boar contact, shower bath or exercise treatment is even worse in Taiwan (Koh and Lin, 1984). It seems that results of modern hormone treatment are similar, but more expensive.

Researchers, especially in Professor Linīs group, have used acupoints Baihui (T4, in the midline, in the lumbosacral space) and Weiken (HL11, in the midline, in the sacrococcygeal space) to treat reproductive disorders in many species.

Three groups of anoestrous Large White x Landrace gilts were assigned to treatment:

• Group C (n=40 gilts) were untreated controls;
• Group AA (n=20 gilts) were treated by aquapuncture (AA): 2 ml of 20 % glucose solution was injected at Baihui and Weiken.
• Group MA ( n=44 gilts) were treated by moxa-acupuncture (MA): the needle was inserted at Baihui and Weiken. A piece of moxa roll, 2 cm long and 1 cm in diameter, was inserted onto the needle-handle and left 1 cm above the skin. The moxa was ignited and took about 10-15 minutes to burn out.
• In groups MA and AA, 45 gilts that failed to show oestrus after the first acupuncture were retreated exactly 7 days after the first treatment. No other treatments, or treatment sessions, were given.

The mean age of the control and experimental groups did not differ significantly (244.0 v 245.9 days; t=0.73; P >0.05)

The experiment was terminated 28 days after the last acupuncture treatment. The following parameters were compared: the number of mated and unmated gilts, and the interval (days) from the first treatment to oestrus (mating)

Results

• Of the control gilts (C), 57.5% showed oestrus (and were mated) in the same time as treated gilts.
• Significantly more gilts came in oestrus (and were mated) after the first session with aquapuncture (AA) than after the first MA session (40.0 v 18.2%, c ²=3.49; P <0.05; Table 1). However, after session 2, and on analysis of sessions 1+2 together, the differences between methods AA and MA had disappeared (session 2: AA v MA 60.0 v 65.7%; sessions 1+2 combined: AA v MA 70.0 v 70.4%; P <0.05; Table 1).
• The repeated (double) treatment gave significantly better results than the first treatment only (64.4 v 25.0%, respectively; c ²=16.96; P <0.001; Table 1).
• In agreement with the conclusions of Hsia & Lee (1988), 70.3% of acupuncture-treated gilts (MA+AA) came in oestrus and were mated within the 28 days. Although that was a better result than in control group (C, 57.5% mated within the same time, Table 1), the difference was not significant (P <0.05).
• In comparison with control group (C), the most important effect of acupuncture (MA+AA) was to significantly shorten the interval to the onset of oestrus and mating (30.8 v 17.6 days; t=4.15; P <0.01; Table 2).

The data confirm the conclusions of Taiwanese workers that acupuncture may be used to induce oestrus (by shortening the anoestrus interval) in gilts. Two sessions of acupuncture had more effect than a single session. Failure to show a significant difference in the percentage of gilts showing oestrus within 28 days (70.3% of acupuncture-treated (MA+AA) gilts v 57.5% of control gilts) may have been due to the numbers studied. This needs further research.

* P<0.05, *** P<0.001

We thank Phil Rogers MRCVS, Dublin, Ireland, for help in editing this article before publication in the Web Journal of Acupuncture.

• Dial GD, de Vier GW, Hixon JE & Gustafsson BK (1984) Endocrine pathogenesis of postweaning anestrus in swine. Response of the persistently anestrous sow to hormonal stimuli. Amer. Journ. Vet. Research 45, 9:1737-1742.
• Hsia LC & Lee JH (1988) Inducing oestrus. Pig Intern., 18, 4:24-26.
• Huang CY (1992) Acupuncture in reproductive disorder. Training course on pig production for participants from friendly countries (2). Anim. Industry Res. Institute, Taiwan Sugar Corporation, 255-258.
• Koh and Lin 1984 see Huang CY (1992)
• Lin JH, Chan WW, Chyr SC, Shien YS & Fung HP (1984) Induction of oestrus in anoestrous sows with acupuncture-A preliminary report. Journ. Agric. Assoc., China (Taipei), new series, 126:83-89.
• Meridith MJ (1979) The treatment of anoestrus in the pig: A review. Vet. Rec., 104:25-27.
• Schilling E & Cerne F (1972) Induction and synchronisation of oestrus in prepubertal gilts and anoestrus sows by PMSG/HCG compound. Vet. Rec., 91:471-477.