Effects of electroacupuncture at Tianshu (ST25) on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in rats with severe acute pancreatitis

Abstract

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at Tianshu (ST25) on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in sodium taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in rats. Sixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham-operation group, SAP group and EA group. An SAP model was established by injecting 3.5% sodium taurocholate at a dose of 1 mL/kg through puncturing the pancreatic duct. In the EA group, EA at ST25 was performed with sparse-dense wave (2/100 Hz, 2 mA for 30 min) immediately after sodium taurocholate injection and 30 min before sacrifice. Rats were sacrificed at 3 (n=7), 6 (n=7) and 12 h (n=8) after operation. Levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 in serum were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pathological changes of pancreatic tissues were examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining and observed under a microscope and also scored. The levels of serum TNF-α and IL-6 of SAP rats were significantly higher than those of sham-operation rats at 3, 6 and 12 h. The level of IL-10 in serum of SAP rats was significantly higher than that of sham-operation rats at 3 and 6 h (P<0.05). EA at ST25 down-regulated the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in serum and up-regulated the level of IL-10 and the ratio of IL-10/TNF-α, also attenuated the morphological damages at 6 and 12 h (P<0.05) in rats with SAP. The pathological scores of pancreatic tissues in the EA group were significantly less than those in the SAP group at 6 and 12 h (P<0.05). EA at ST25 may have a therapeutic effect on rats with SAP by down-regulating the levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and up-regulating the level of IL-10 to re-establish the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and to ameliorate the inflammatory response of SAP.