Using model organism to replace human subjects for experimental objects is an important part in basic research on acupuncture therapy.In the process of experimental research

the first thing is that if the animal model is suitable for revealing the underlying mechanism of acupuncture intervention

if it is relatively close to structures of the human body.In addition

some factors such as being easy to feed

larger in the volume and body-surface

lesser in fur

stable in the germline and reasonable in the cost should be considered.In current acupuncture study

most experiments were carried out in mice and rats

some were conducted in rabbits and cats

fewer conducted in larger animals like mini-pigs and monkeys.Due to being smaller in both body size and superficial area in the mouse and rat

soft and comate skin in the rabbit and cat

difficult breeding for cattle and horse

experimental studies of acupuncture-meridians are in fact not ideal in these animals.Mini-pig has a larger body size and body surface

being similar to the human body in the skin structure and easy to breed

and the monkey is mostly close to the human in the gene and body size

and is thus an ideal model organism for acupuncture research.Because acupoint and meridians have their space specificity

the usage of larger animal as the model organism is necessary.