Electroacupuncture Alleviates Functional Constipation in Mice by Activating Enteric Glial Cell Autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling.

To investigate autophagy-related mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) action in improving gastrointestinal motility in mice with functional constipation (FC). According to a random number table, the Kunming mice were divided into the normal control, FC and EA groups in Experiment I. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was used to observe whether it antagonized the effects of EA in Experiment II. An FC model was established by diphenoxylate gavage. Then the mice were treated with EA stimulation at Tianshu (ST 25) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) acupoints. The first black stool defecation time, the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and intestinal transit rate were used to assess intestinal transit. Colonic tissues underwent histopathological assessment, and the expressions of autophagy markers microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway members were investigated by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The relationship between enteric glial cells (EGCs) and autophagy was observed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, localization analysis, and electron microscopy. EA treatment shortened the first black stool defecation time, increased the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and improved the intestinal transit rate in FC mice (P<0.01). In terms of a putative autophagy mechanism, EA treatment promoted the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins in the colonic tissue of FC mice (P<0.05), with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and LC3 significantly colocalized. Furthermore, EA promoted colonic autophagy in FC mice by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The positive effect of EA on intestinal motility in FC mice was blocked by 3-MA. EA treatment can inhibit PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in the colonic tissues of FC mice, thereby promoting EGCs autophagy to improve intestinal motility.

Wang L ，Chen Y ，Xu MM ，Cao W ，Zheng QH ，Zhou SY ，Yao JP ，Xi MH ，Qin HY ，Li Y ，Zhang W ... -  《-》

Effect of electroacupuncture on enteric neuronal autophagy in functional constipation mice.

Xi MH ，Wang L ，Zhang W ，Zheng QH ，Qin HY ，Yan XY ，Chen SJ ，Li Y ... -  《-》

[Electroacupuncture promotes gastrointestinal motility by activating autophagy of Cajal interstitial cells via downregulating PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in stomach of diabetic gastro-paresis rats].

Zhang TH ，Zhao ST ，Li XY ，Xiao XJ ，Xiao L ，Wei X ，Peng Y ... -  《-》

Electroacupuncture Promotes Functional Recovery after Facial Nerve Injury in Rats by Regulating Autophagy via GDNF and PI3K/mTOR Signaling Pathway.

Yao JP ，Feng XM ，Wang L ，Li YQ ，Zhu ZY ，Yan XY ，Yang YQ ，Li Y ，Zhang W ... -  《-》

[Electroacupuncture at "Zusanli"(ST36) promotes gastrointestinal motility possibly by suppres-sing excessive autophagy via AMPK/ULK1 signaling in rats with functional dyspepsia].

Pan XL ，Zhou L ，Wang D ，Han YL ，Wang JY ，Xu PD ，Zhang HX ，Zhou L ... -  《-》