The effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture at LI11 and ST37 on constipation in a rat model.

Electroacupuncture (EA) is used clinically for the treatment of constipation. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) plays an important role in colonic motility; however it is unknown whether alterations in colonic 5-HT are associated with EA. In this study, the effect and mechanism of EA at acupuncture points LI11 and ST37 were examined using a cold saline-induced rat model of constipation. A rat constipation model was induced by cold saline gavage in 24 Sprague-Dawley rats. A further six rats were included as a Control group. The constipated rats were divided into four groups (n=6 each): a Constipation group that remained untreated; a Constipation+LI11 group that received EA at LI11; a Constipation+ST37 groups that received EA at ST37; and a Constipation+LI11+ST37 group that received EA at both LI11 and ST37. After EA treatment, faecal water content, defaecation frequency, and gastrointestinal (GI) transit were measured, as well as the expression of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) in colonic tissues (by Western blot analysis) and 5-HT in both faeces and colonic tissues (by ELISA). All three EA-treated groups demonstrated significant improvements in faecal water content, defaecation frequency and GI transit (p<0.05). In addition, TPH and 5-HT expression were both increased by EA at LI11 and/or ST37 (p<0.05). There were no significant differences between the three EA groups for any outcomes. EA at LI11 and/or ST37 had a positive effect on objective markers of constipation in a rat model. In addition, EA increased 5-HT and TPH in the colonic tissues.

Zhu X ，Liu Z ，Qu H ，Niu W ，Gao L ，Wang Y ，Zhang A ，Bai L ... -  《-》

[Electroacupuncture improves intestinal function by down-regulating expression of 5-HT(1A)R and c-fos proteins in the hypothalamus and colon tissues via brain-gut axis in rats with functional diarrhea].

Wang Q ，Wang Y ，Niu WM ，Yang XH ，Liu ZB ... -  《-》

Acupuncture at heterotopic acupoints enhances jejunal motility in constipated and diarrheic rats.

Qin QG ，Gao XY ，Liu K ，Yu XC ，Li L ，Wang HP ，Zhu B ... -  《-》

Effects of electroacupuncture at ST25 and BL25 in a Sennae-induced rat model of diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Electroacupuncture (EA) may have a role in the treatment of diarrhoea symptoms. Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is an important neurotransmitter and paracrine signalling molecule in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, which initiates peristaltic, secretory, vasodilatory, vagal and nociceptive reflexes. In addition, according to the results of our previous report, EA stimulation mediates GI peristalsis by increasing expression of 5-HT and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH). To investigate the effect of EA at acupuncture points ST25 and BL25 in a rat model of diarrhoea. A diarrhoea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) model was induced by Folium Sennae in 24 rats, which remained untreated (n=6) or received EA at ST25 (n=6), BL25 (n=6) or the combination of ST25 and BL25 (n=6). A control group of healthy rats was also included (n=6). After treatment, changes in loose stool and small intestine transit rates, enterochromaffin (EC) cell number, expression of TPH, and faecal/colonic 5-HT contents were measured. Loose stool and small intestine transit rates, EC cell numbers, colonic TPH expression and faecal/colonic 5-HT content of IBS-D rats were significantly increased relative to controls (p<0.05) and all these parameters were improved by EA at ST25, BL25, or ST25 and BL25 in combination (all p<0.05 vs untreated IBS-D rats). EA at ST25 and/or BL25 had a positive effect on objective markers of diarrhoea in a IBS-D rat model and induced changes in EC cell number, colonic TPH and 5-HT contents. The effects of EA stimulation at ST25/BL25 on IBS-D rats may be mediated by excitation of sympathetic nerves.

Zhu X ，Liu Z ，Niu W ，Wang Y ，Zhang A ，Qu H ，Zhou J ，Bai L ，Yang Y ，Li J ... -  《-》

[Effects of electroacupuncture at "Zhongliao" and "Xialiao" on serotonin signaling system and short-chain fatty acids in slow transit constipation rats].

Ma JZ ，Chen P ，Zhang JM ，Ding K ，Zhou HF ... -  《-》