Therapeutic Effects of Electroacupuncture at ST36 Acupoint on Sodium-Taurocholate-lnduced Severe Acute Pancreatitis

• Published in: 中国结合医学杂志：英文版 2014 (9), p.695-700
• Main Author: 薛奇明 李宁 薛平 王成伟 文谦
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: TNF-α; 治疗作用; 牛磺胆酸钠; 电针; 穴位; 肿瘤坏死因子-α; 酶联免疫吸附测定法; 重症急性胰腺炎
• ISSN: 1672-0415; 1993-0402

Objective： To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture （EA） at Zusanli （ST36） acupoint in rats with severe acute pancreatitis （SAP）. Methods： Sixty-six male Sprague- Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups of 22 each： a SAP model group （SAP group）, a sham- operated group （sham group） and a EA at ST36 acupoint group （EA group）. A rat model of SAP was induced by pancreatic duct injection with 3.5% sodium taurocholate. EA was performed at ST36 acupoint for 30 min after induction of SAP and 30 min before sacrificed. The rats were killed at 3 h （n=7）, 6 h （n=7） and 12 h （n=8） after operation, and blood samples were taken for the measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha （TNF-α）, interleukin-6 （IL-6） and acetylcholine （Ach） by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay. The pathological changes of pancreatic tissue, volume of ascites and pancreatic weight/body weight ratio were measured. Results The serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 in the EA group were significantly lower than in the SAP group at 3, 6 and 12 h after the operation （P〈0.05）. Serum Ach in the EA group was significantly higher than in the SAP group at various time points after operation （P〈0.05）. The other parameters were clearly improved after treatment with EA. Conclusion： EA at ST36 acupoint might have a therapeutic effect in rats with SAP through activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.