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Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Zhongwan"(CV 12), "Tianshu"(ST 20) and "Shangjuxu"(ST 37) (an acupoint prescription "Changbingfang" for treatment of intestinal disorders) on the expression of colonic nuclear factor kappaB p65 (NF-kappaB p65) protein expression and serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) content in rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of ulcerative colitis (UC)., Methods: Thirty SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal control, model and EA groups (10 rats/group). The UC model was made by enema with 8% acetic acid. EA stimulation (6 Hz/30 Hz) was delivered to "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Tianshu" (ST 20) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37) for 15 min separately, 0 h, 24 h and 48 h post-enema. The blood and colon tissues were taken for detection of serum IL-4 content with ELISA, and for assaying colonic NF-kappaB p65 protein expression with immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively., Results: Compared with the normal control group, colonic NF-kappaB p65 protein expression level shown by immunohistochemistry and Western blot and serum IL-4 content were significantly higher in the model group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). After EA stimulation, colonic NF-kappaB p65 protein expression levels shown by both immunohistochemistry and Western blot were down-regulated significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05) and serum IL-4 content was up-regulated further in comparison with the model group (P < 0.01)., Conclusion: EA of acupoint recipe "Changbingfang" can down-regulate the proinflammatory NF-kappaB p65 protein expression and up-regulate serum anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 level in rats, which may contribute to its effect in improving ulcerative colitis.

Objective: To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of differently combined acupoints of "Zhongwan" (CV 12), "Tianshu" (ST 25) and "Shangjuxu" (ST 37, for treatment of enteral disorders) on acetic acid-induced intestinal mucosal lesion in rats so as to select the best combinations of acupoints., Methods: A total of 126 SD rats were divided into nine groups: normal control (normal), model, CV 12, ST 25, ST 37, CV 12 + ST 37, ST 25 + ST 37, CV 12 + ST 25 and CV 12 + ST 25 + ST 37. Intestinal mucosal lesion model was established by using enema (8% acetic acid 1 mL). EA was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints for 15 min, once daily for 3 days. General conditions, colonic mucosal damage index (CMDI) and pathological damage integral (PDI) were detected respectively. The colonic mucosal membrane tissue was stained with H. E. stain for observing its morphological changes under light microscope, and the ultrastructural changes were observed using electron transmission microscope., Results: Compared with the control group, CMDI was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) and PDI of the colonic mucosal membrane increased significantly in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, CMDI was decreased markedly and PDI increased significantly (P < 0.05) in the CV 12, ST 25, ST 37, CV 12 + ST 37, ST 25 + ST 37, CV 12 + ST 25 and CV 12 + ST 25 + ST 37 groups (P < 0.05). Comparison among the 7 EA treatment groups showed that both CMDI and PDI of the CV 12 + ST 25 + ST 37 group were significantly superior to those of CV 12, ST 25, ST 37, CV 12 + ST 37, ST 25 + ST 37 and CV 12 + ST 25 groups (P < 0.05). Under light microscope, the colonic mucosal injury was remarkable, while those of the 7 EA treatment groups were relatively milder. Ultramicrostructural findings showed that the colonic mucosal lesion including shortening or sparseness of the intestinal epithelial villi, swelling of mitochondria with arrangement disorder, breaking or fusion of the cristae, and enlargement of the rough endocytoplasmic reticulum was found in the model group, while the situations were lighter in the 7 EA groups particularly in the CV 12 + ST 25 + ST 37 group., Conclusion: EA of CV 12, ST 25 and ST 37 acupoint alone or combination can relieve acetic acid-induced intestinal mucosal lesion in rats, and the effect of joint application of these 3 acupoints is obviously better, suggesting their clinical applicability in clinical treatment of intestinal disorders as a basic formula.

Objective: To compare the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Gastric Problem Formula" ["Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36)] on electrical activities of neurons of medullary subnucleus reticularis dorsalis (SRD) of the rat., Methods: Experiments were performed on SD rats anesthetized by 10% urethane (1.0-1.5 g/kg). Under artificial ventilation and immobilization (2% gallamine triethiodide, 5 ml/kg), extracelluar discharges were recorded by glass micropipettes inserted into SRD of the medulla (Caudal to the Obex: - 1.0 - -2.0 mm, L/R= 0.5-1.5 mm, H: 0.6- 1.5 mm below the medullary surface). Following getting stable recordings, the acupuncture needle inserted in "Neiguan" (PC 6) was manipulated moderately (twisting range: 120 degrees, frequency = 80 times/min) for 30 s. The same manipulation was performed at "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) separately., Results: After moderate acupuncture stimulation, in the recorded 13 SRD neurons, the discharges were increased from (1.67 +/- 0.35) spikes/s to (17.55 +/- 1.40) spikes/s for "Neiguan" (PC 6), from (2.35 +/- 0.43) spikes/s to (16.96 +/- 1.83) spikes/s for "Zhongwan" (CV 12), and from (1.83 +/- 0.37) spikes/s to (17.39 +/- 1.58) spikes/s for "Zusanli" (ST 36). No apparent differences were found among 3 acupoints in their responses to manual manipulation., Conclusion: Moderate acupuncture stimulation of "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) can effectively activate spontaneous discharges of SRD neurons in the rat.

Objective: To select the best combination of the commonly-used acupoints [Zhongwan (CV 12), Neiguan (PC 6), and Zusanli (ST 36)] for treatment of gastric disorders., Methods: Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into 8 groups: model, ST36, CV12, PC6, ST36 + PC6, ST36 + CV12, CV12 + PC6 and ST36 + CV12 + PC6 by factorial design method. Acute gastric mucosal lesion model was established by intragastric perfusion of anhydrous alcohol. EA(1- 3 mA, 30 Hz) was applied to the above-mentioned acupoints for 20 min respectively. And after EA, gastric mucosal lesion index (LI), pathological lesion integral score (PLIS) were calculated and mucosal ultramicrostructural changes observed by optical microscope and transmission electron microscope respectively., Results: Compared with model group, the gastric mucosal LI and PLIS of ST36, CV12, PC6, ST36 + CV12, ST36 + PC6, CV12 + PC6, ST36 + CV12 + PC6 groups all decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Comparison among 7 EA groups showed that both LI and PLIS of ST36 + CV12 + PC6 group were significantly lower than those of ST36, V12, PC6, ST36 + CV12, ST36 + PC6 and CV12 + PC6 groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between every two groups of ST36, CV12, PC6, ST36+ CV12, ST36 + PC6 and CV12 + PC6 groups (P > 0.05) in both LI and PLIS. Ultrastructural results showed that the injury of gastric mucosal parietal cells and delomorphous cells including mitochondrial swelling, crista arrange disorder and breaking, enlargement of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, ribosome exfoliation, etc. in model group was serious, but lightened significantly in EA groups particularly in ST36 + CV12 + PC6 group., Conclusion: ST36, PC6 and CV12 combination can effectively reduce anhydrous alcohol-induced gastric mucosal lesion in rats, and may be used as a basic formula

Objective: To probe the mechanism of electroacupuncture at points "Weibingfang" in treatment of acute gastric mucosal lesion., Methods: Forty Wistar rats of sanitary degree were randomly divided into 4 groups, normal group, model group, sham-model group and Weibingfang group, 10 rats in each group. The acute gastric mucosal lesion model was made by intragastric perfusion of anhydrous alcohol. The Weibingfang group were treated by electroacupuncture at "Neiguan" (PC 6), "Zhongwan" (CV 12) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) with sparse-dense wave, frequency of 10-30 Hz, current intensity of 2 mA, for 20 min. One hour after the treatment, the blood from the abdominal aorta and the gastric mucosa tissue were taken, and serum epidermal growth factor (EGF) level and epidermic growth factor receptor mRNA (EGFR mRNA) expression in the gastric mucosa were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) respectively., Results: There were significant differences in blood EGF level (41.62 +/- 12.58) ng/L and EGFR mRNA expression (0.78 +/- 0.03) in the model group were significantly different from [(60.37 +/- 12.01) ng/L and 0.55 +/- 0.04] in the normal group and [(61.21 +/- 13.46) ng/L and 0.53 +/- 0.05] in the sham-model group (P < 0.05); after electroacupuncture, blood EGF level (70.59 +/- 10.14) ng/L increased and the EGFR mRNA expression (1.18 +/- 0.02) in the gastric mucosa was up-regulated with a significant differences as compared with those in the model group (P < 0.05)., Conclusion: Point "Weibingfang" can promote proliferation, differentiation and migration of the gastric mucosal epidermic cells to repair the gastric mucosal lesion.

Background: We sought to determine the effects of ST36 acupuncture on sepsis-induced kidney and liver injuries., Methods: A total of 120 rats were randomized into 10 groups: 1) lipopolysaccharide (LPS), 2) normal saline (N/S), 3) LPS + ST36, 4) ST36, 5) LPS + P-ST36, 6) P-ST36, 7) LPS + Sham, 8) Sham, 9) LPS + P-Sham, and 10) P-Sham groups. Rats in the LPS + ST36, ST36, LPS +Sham, and Sham groups received ST36 (designated as "ST36") or a nonacupoint (designated as "Sham") acupuncture for 30 min followed by LPS or N/S injection. Rats in the LPS + P-ST36, P-ST36, LPS + P-Sham, and P-Sham groups received LPS or N/S injection for 3 h followed by a 30 min of ST36 or a "nonacupoint" acupuncture. Rats were killed at 6 h after LPS injection., Results: LPS caused prominent kidney and liver injuries. The renal and hepatic nitric oxide (NO) concentrations and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) expression were also increased by LPS. ST36 acupuncture pretreatment significantly attenuated the LPS-induced kidney injury and the increases in renal NO concentration and iNOS expression. However, ST36 acupuncture pretreatment did not affect the LPS-induced liver injury and increases in hepatic NO concentration or iNOS expression. Furthermore, ST36 acupuncture performed after LPS did not affect the LPS-induced organ injuries or increases in NO concentration and iNOS expression., Conclusions: ST36 acupuncture pretreatment significantly attenuated sepsis-induced kidney, but not liver, injury in rats, whereas ST36 acupuncture performed after sepsis induction had no protective effects against sepsis-induced organ injuries.

Background: The isozymes of type-2 cationic amino acid transporter (including CAT-2 and CAT-2B) and guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH) constitute part of the down-stream regulatory pathways that regulate nitric oxide (NO) production mediated by inducible NO synthase (iNOS). We sought to evaluate the effects of acupuncture stimulation of ST36 (Zusanli) on the expression of CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat lungs., Methods: Sixty rats were randomized into 6 groups (n = 10 in each group): 1) LPS, 2) Normal saline (N/S), 3) LPS + ST36, 4) ST36, 5) LPS + Sham, and 6) Sham groups. Manual acupuncture stimulation of ST36 (designated as "ST36") or a "nonacupoint" (designated as "Sham") was performed in lightly immobilized rats for 30 minutes. Then, LPS injection was performed to induce the expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in rat lungs. Rats were sacrificed 6 hours after LPS injection and the expressions of these enzymes were assayed., Results: Reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) data revealed that the expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in N/S-stimulated rat lungs were low. Exposure to LPS significantly induced the expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH. In addition, the pre-treatment of ST36 acupuncture significantly attenuated the LPS-induced expressions of iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH in stimulated rat lungs., Conclusions: Pre-treatment of acupuncture stimulation of ST36 had significantly inhibitory effects on LPS-induced iNOS, CAT-2, CAT-2B, and GTPCH expressions in septic rat lungs.

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of JAK2 / STAT3 / SOCS1 signaling pathway in electroacupuncture of different acupoints on acute colitis rats. Methods: 36 SPF SD rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, with 6 rats in each group. The rat model of acute colitis was prepared by enema with glacial acetic acid solution. After the model was established, electroacupuncture was given to each acupoint group, with density wave, frequency 2Hz-50 Hz, intensity 2 mA, muscle tremor as the degree 20 min/time, 1 time/day, for 3 consecutive days. Observe the general condition of rats ; the pathological changes of colonic mucosa in rats were observed by HE method. The contents of serum interleukin-4 ( IL-4 ) and interleukin-8 ( IL-8 ) were detected by ELISA. Western blot and RT-PCR were used to detect the expression of JAK2, STAT3, SOCS1 protein and mRNA in rat colon tissue. Results: In contrast to the normal group, the overall condition of the model group was worse, the colonic mucosa was severely damaged, even necrotic, and the ulcer surface was obvious. The content of IL-4 in serum was obviously reduced, and the content of IL-8 was obviously go up ( P < 0.01 ). The protein content of JAK2, STAT3 and the expression of JAK2, STAT3 mRNA in colon tissue of rats were obviously go up, while the protein content of SOCS1 and the expression of SOCS1 mRNA were obviously reduced ( P < 0.01 ). In contrast to the model group, the general condition of rats in each acupoint group was significantly improved, the damage and necrosis of colonic mucosa and ulcer surface were obviously alleviated, the content of IL-4 in serum was obviously go up, and the content of IL-8 was significantly decreased ( P < 0.01 ). The protein content of JAK2, STAT3 and the expression of JAK2, STAT3 mRNA in colon tissue of rats were obviously reduced, while the protein content of SOCS1 and the expression of SOCS1 mRNA were obviously go up ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01 ). Comparison of different acupoint groups, the colonic mucosal injury in the Zusanli group was significantly reduced, the content of serum IL-4 was significantly increased, and the content of IL-8 was significantly decreased ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01 ). The protein content and mRNA expression of JAK2 and STAT3 in colon tissue were significantly down-regulated, while the protein content and mRNA expression of SOCS1 were significantly go up ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01 ). Conclusion: Electroacupuncture at each acupoint can improve the damage of colonic mucosa and reduce the inflammatory response. The therapeutic effect of Zusanli (ST36) is better than that of Tianshu (ST25), Dachangshu (BL25) and Shangjuxu (ST37). The mechanism may be related to the regulation of JAK2 / STAT3 / SOCS1 signaling pathway related proteins and inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]