Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the comparative effects of Apitoxin(0.1% bee venom 0.1cc) & Acupuncture therapy on the knee joint arthritis induced by 0.1% carrageenin solution at Rt. knee joint in rats. After carrageenin injection, the apitoxin was injected for two times (Experimental group I : 1 & 24hours later, Experimental group II : 48 & 72hours later) into the corresponding loci to Rt. $ST_{35}$(Group 3) & $EX-LE_4$(group 4) of the human body in rats. Acupuncture therapy was done same as above. And then the comparative effects of apitoxin and acupuncture therapy on the knee joint arthritis were estimated by the WBC count, RBC count, hemoglobin level, hematocrit level and ASO titer in serum. The results were summerized as follows : 1. The effects of apitoxin & acupuncture on WBC count showed remarkable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 2. The effect of apitoxin on RBC count showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. The acupuncture was not showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 3. The effects of apitoxin & acupuncture on hemoglobin level showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 4. The effect of apitoxin on hematocrit level showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. The acupuncture was not showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in both experimental group I & experimental group II. There were not any statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. 5. The effect of apitoxin on ASO titer showed noticeable decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group only in experimental group I. The apitoxin & acupuncture showed decrease at group 3 & group 4 as compared with the control group in experimental group II. There were significantly statistical difference from apitoxin and acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test. The effect of apitoxin showed slightly decrease as compared with the acupuncture therapy by Duncan's multiple range test.