Effect of electroacupuncture combined with Zhuang-medicine-thread moxibustion on expression of apoptosis-related factors in gastric antrum of diabetic gastroparesis rats

Abstract

To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) combined with Zhuang-medicine-thread moxibustion on expression of apoptosis-related factors in gastric antrum of diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) rats, so as to explore its mechanism underlying improvement of DGP. Male SD rats were randomly divided into normal, model, medication, EA, Zhuang-medicine-thread moxibustion (moxibustion) and EA+moxibustion (combination) groups (12 rats in each group). The DGP model was established by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Rats of the medication group were treated by gavage of 0.15 mg/mL mosapride citrate suspension （10 mL/kg）. EA (10 Hz/50 Hz, 2 mA, 20 min) or Zhuang-medicine-thread moxibustion (3 cones) was applied to "Zhongwan" (CV12), bilateral "Neiguan" (PC6) and bilateral "Sanyinjiao" (SP6) of the related groups, once a day for 3 weeks. The blood glucose, gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsion rate of rats were measured. The apoptosis index of gastric antrum cells were observed by TUNEL staining. The protein and mRNA expressions of Caspase-3, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) in gastric antrum were detected by Wes-tern blot and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Compared with the normal group, the blood glucose, the apoptosis index, the protein and gene expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax were significantly increased (P<0.01), and the gastric emptying rate, intestinal propulsive rate, the protein and gene expressions of Bcl-2 were considerably decreased (P<0.01) in the model group. In contrast to the model group, the blood glucose in the EA, moxibustion and combination groups, the apoptosis index in the 4 treatment groups, as well as Caspase-3 protein, Bax protein and mRNA expressions in the medication, EA and combination groups, Caspase-3 protein and mRNA, Bax mRNA expressions in the moxibustion group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); while the gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsive rate in the 4 treatment groups, and Bcl-2 protein and mRNA expressions in the medication and combination groups, Bcl-2 mRNA expressions in the EA and moxibustion groups were obviously increased (P<0.01). The effects of EA+moxibustion were significantly superior to those of simple EA, moxibustion or medication in increasing gastric emptying rate and intestinal propulsive rate, and in lowering blood glucose (P<0.05, P<0.01). And the effects of the combination treatment were better than those of EA in lowering Caspase-3 protein and Bax mRNA expressions (P<0.01), and in increasing Bcl-2 protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.05, P<0.01). Also the effects of the combination treatment were better than those of moxibustion in lowering the apoptosis index, Caspase-3 protein, and Bax protein and mRNA expressions (P<0.01, P<0.05), and in increasing Bcl-2 protein expression (P<0.05). EA combined with Zhuang-medicine-thread moxibustion can reduce blood glucose and improve gastrointestinal motility in DGP rats, which may be related to its effect in regulating of Caspase-3, Bax and Bcl-2 expression.