Unanesthetized dogs with chronic ureteral and gastric fistulae were infused with 0.8% NaCl solution into the stomach at a constant rate for maintaining a state of saline loading.In these animals

there was a steady renal excretion of water

sodium and potassium.However

after a 20-minute unilateral electro-acupuncture of the points corresponding to “Sanyinjao” and “Zhaohai” in human leg as described in Traditional Chinese Medicine caused a marked increase in urine flow and urinary sodium excretion

but had no significant effect on urinary po(?)assium excretion.In another group of normal unanesthetized dogs(without saline loading)

the effect of electroacupuncture mentioned above no longer appeared.Owing to the facts that electroacupuncture merely increased the water and sodium excretion of kidneys in saline-loading unanesthetized dogs

and had no effect in normal unanesthetized dogs

it is concluded that the effects of electroacupuncture on the urine flow and sodium excretion in saline-loading unanesthetized dogs is an action of normalization by acupuncture.