Effects of electroacupuncture on the intestinal motility and local inflammation are modulated by acupoint selection and stimulation frequency in postoperative ileus mice

Abstract

Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent complication of abdominal surgery characterized by transient hypomotility of the gastrointestinal tract and presents as an inability to tolerate enteral nutrition, nausea, and lack of passage of flatus and stool, along with abdominal distension. 1 Acute early activation of inhibitory neural pathways and secondary late inflammatory responses are considered to be the main pathological mechanisms of POI. 2 This condition accounts for prolonged hospitalization and increased risks of aspiration and infectiousAbstract Background: Electroacupuncture (EA) is widely used in various gastrointestinal diseases around the world, including POI. Here, we investigated different therapeutic effects of EA using lower limb and abdomen acupoints. Methods: Intestinal manipulation was performed in 88 mice, and eight mice underwent a sham operation. Forty mice were randomly divided into model group and four EA groups receiving stimulation at ST36 (2, 10, 30, 100 Hz). The most effective frequency was then used in the following experiments. Forty-eight mice were randomly divided into six groups receiving EA treatment at ST37, ST39, ST25, CV4, CV12, and a non-acupuncture point. Gastrointestinal motility and plasma TNF-α, IL-6 were evaluated in all mice. The local immune response and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression were assessed by immunofluorescence, ELISA, and HE staining.Results: ST36 stimulated with 10 or 30 Hz EA significantly increased the gastrointestinal motility and attenuated peripheral inflammation; however, ST36 stimulated with 2 or 100 Hz did not induce any effect. The therapeutic effects on motility and inflammation of 10 Hz EA in the ST36 group were similar in the ST36, ST37, ST39, or CV4 groups, but when applied to ST25, CV12 or non-acupoint had no significant differences. EA at ST36, ST37, ST39, or CV4 significantly inhibited local MPO activity, immune cells infiltration, and increased α-SMA.Conclusions: EA at lower limb and abdomen acupoints with the same stimulation parameters had different therapeutic effects on postoperative dysmotility and inflammation. Furthermore, EA protected SMC to improve gastrointestinal transit by reducing local inflammation in the intestinal musculature in POI. K E Y W O R D Sacupoints, gastrointestinal motility, myeloperoxidase, α-SMA

Acupuncture at Back-Shu and Front-Mu Acupoints Prevents Gastric Ulcer by Regulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

“…Electroacupuncture has been proven to relieve multiple stress-induced conditions, including irregular gastric rhythm, abnormal defecation, delayed gastric emptying, and anxiolytic-like behavioral effects [ 20 – 22 ]. Electroacupuncture is widely used in various gastrointestinal diseases by anti-inflammatory mechanism [ 23 , 24 ].…”

The role of macrophage polarization and associated mechanisms in regulating the anti-inflammatory action of acupuncture: a literature review and perspectives

“…The therapeutic effects on motility and inflammation of 10 Hz EA at ST36 were similar in the mice treated at ST36, ST37, ST39 or CV4, but when applied to ST25, CV12 or non-acupoint had no effect. Moreover, EA at ST36, ST37, ST39 or CV4 inhibited local myeloperoxidase activity and immune cell infiltration, and increased α-smooth muscle actin, indicating that EA at lower limb and abdomen acupoints with the same stimulation parameters had different therapeutic effects on postoperative dysmotility and inflammation [ 54 ]. Recently, this group further demonstrated that EA at ST36 suppressed intestinal inflammation and promoted gastrointestinal motility.…”

Transplantation of bone mesenchymal stem cells effectively promotes intestine regeneration to eliminate endotoxemia and reduce mortality in the animal model of acute liver failure

“…Images (× 100 magni cation) were taken from each sample, and histopathological evaluation of the entire section was performed in a blinded manner. The injury of liver and intestine was scored using the modi ed histopathologic score described previously [17][18][19]. These criteria for histological score were shown in Table 1.…”