Effects of electroacupuncture Zusanli (ST36) on food intake and expression of POMC and TRPV1 through afferents-medulla pathway in obese prone rats

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) ST36 on food intake and body weight in Obese Prone (OP) rats compared to obese resistant (OR) strain on a high fat diet. The influences of EA on mRNA levels of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 (TRPV1), and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were also examined in the medulla regions and ST36 skin tissue. Methods Advanced EA ST36 was conducted in two sessions of 20 min separated by an 80 min interval for 7 days. Food intake and body weight were recorded in conscious rats every day. Real time PCR was conducted in the micropunches of the medulla regions and skin tissues at the end of the treatment. Results Food intake and body weight were significantly reduced by advanced EA ST36 in OP rats, but slightly decreased in OR strain and sham-EA rats. Advanced EA ST36 produced a marked increase in POMC mRNA level in the nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and hypoglossal nucleus (HN) regions. TRPV1 and nNOS mRNAs were simultaneously increased in the NTS/gracile nucleus regions and in the ST36 skin regions by the EA treatment in OP rats. Conclusions We conclude that advanced EA ST36 produces an up-regulation of anorexigenic factor POMC production in the NTS/HN, which inhibits food intake and reduces body weight. EA-induced expression of TRPV1-nNOS in the ST36 and the NTS/gracile nucleus is involved in the signal transduction of EA stimuli via somatosensory afferents-medulla pathways.

Chronic Electrical Stimulation at Acupoints Reduces Body Weight and Improves Blood Glucose in Obese Rats via Autonomic Pathway

“…Han et al reported inhibitory effects of EA at ST36 on food intake and body weight in both regular and DIO rats [15,16]. Similar findings were reported by Ji et al in obesity-prone rats [17]. To the best of our knowledge, the proposed CEA is the first method to treat obesity via chronically implanted electrodes at acupoints.…”

Electroacupuncture inhibits weight gain in diet-induced obese rats by activating hypothalamicLKB1-AMPK signaling

“…However, a few reports showed that EA ST36 may enhanced appetite to a certain extent [ 63 ], but more studies suggested that EA ST36 significantly inhibited feeding and body weight gain [ 64 – 69 ]. The possible mechanisms are down-regulated orexigenic peptides, such as neuropeptide Y (NPY) [ 64 ], upregulates anorexigenic hormones, including proopiomelanocortin (POMC) [ 65 ], α-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) [ 66 ], and cholecystokinin (CCK) [ 67 – 69 ]. Nevertheless, there are other acupoints used for the treatment of obesity, further studies should test whether stimulation of other acupoints acts through a similar mechanism like stimulation of ST36 and ST25.…”

Effect of Electroacupuncture at ST36 on Gastric-Related Neurons in Spinal Dorsal Horn and Nucleus Tractus Solitarius

“…According to recent evidence, acupuncture at ST 36 can regulate gastric activity, depending on the neural basis or structure and is probably related to the central neurons in the dorsal vagal complex [33]. EA-induced expression of transient receptor potential vanilloid type-1 neuronal nitric oxide synthase (TRPV1-nNOS) and the NTS/gracile nucleus is involved in the signal transduction of EA stimuli via somatosensory afferent-medulla pathways [34]. In our study, the modes of response to EA at ST36 were more complicated in gastric-related neurons of the NTS than in those of the SDH.…”