Effect of Acupoint Embedding on Serum Leptin and Hypothalamus Leptin Receptor Expression in Rats with Simple Obesity.

Qiming Yang,Mingxing Lai,Qinzuo Dong,Chunlin Xia,Yuanfeng Wang,Yingjing Luo,Li Li,Zhiyan Zhang,Liwei Xing,Rong Zhao,Dong Zhao,Xianwu Yue,Hongxi Chen

doi:10.1155/2021/3500409

Abstract

Background Acupoint embedding treatment on obesity has been applied in clinical practice for many years and has achieved obvious efficacy. However, animal experimental studies on acupoint embedding are relatively few, and its mechanism remains unclear. Methods We established a simple obese rat model using a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. Acupoint embedding therapy was performed once a week for 4 weeks. After the treatment, serum leptin, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were detected by radioimmunoassay, HE staining was used for fat morphology analysis, and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of leptin receptor in hypothalamus. Results Compared with model group, acupoint embedding treatment can reduce body weight and Lee's index, reduce serum leptin, TG, TC, and LDL level, increase HDL level, change the morphology and number of adipocytes, and increase the expression of leptin receptor in hypothalamus. Conclusion Acupoint embedding therapy can reduce the level of leptin in blood, increase the number of leptin receptors in hypothalamus, enhance the biological effect of leptin, alleviate the leptin resistance in obese body, change the shape of fat, and regulate the level of blood lipid, so as to achieve the goal of weight loss.

Highlights

Obesity is a chronic disease characterized by excessive amount of fat in the body, increased volume of fat cells, and abnormal distribution
We found that leptin levels were significantly increased, but hypothalamus leptin receptor expression decreased in high-fat induced obese rats, leptin receptor Positive Cells Density
Previous studies have shown that increased adipocyte volume is an important histological feature of obesity [30, 31]. e results of this study showed that the diameter, area, and volume of adipocytes in the model group were increased compared with those in the normal group (P < 0.05), and the body weight and Lee’s index were significantly increased. is phenomenon suggested that obese rats in the model group had the characteristics of increased adipocyte volume and significantly increased lipid storage capacity, which was consistent with the histological changes of human obesity

Summary

Background

Acupoint embedding treatment on obesity has been applied in clinical practice for many years and has achieved obvious efficacy. Serum leptin, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were detected by radioimmunoassay, HE staining was used for fat morphology analysis, and immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of leptin receptor in hypothalamus. Acupoint embedding treatment can reduce body weight and Lee’s index, reduce serum leptin, TG, TC, and LDL level, increase HDL level, change the morphology and number of adipocytes, and increase the expression of leptin receptor in hypothalamus. Acupoint embedding therapy can reduce the level of leptin in blood, increase the number of leptin receptors in hypothalamus, enhance the biological effect of leptin, alleviate the leptin resistance in obese body, change the shape of fat, and regulate the level of blood lipid, so as to achieve the goal of weight loss

Introduction

Materials and Methods

Results

Conflicts of Interest