Obesity Animal Models for Acupuncture and Related Therapy Research Studies.

Xuwen Zhang,David Val-Laillet,Ihsan Ul Haq

doi:10.1155/2021/6663397

Abstract

Obesity and related diseases are considered as pandemic representing a worldwide threat for health. Animal models are critical to validate the effects and understand the mechanisms related to classical or innovative preventive and therapeutic strategies. It is, therefore, important to identify the best animal models for translational research, using different evaluation criteria such as the face, construct, and predictive validity. Because the pharmacological treatments and surgical interventions currently used for treating obesity often present many undesirable side effects, relatively high relapse probabilities, acupuncture, electroacupuncture (EA), and related therapies have gained more popularity and attention. Many kinds of experimental animal models have been used for obesity research studies, but in the context of acupuncture, most of the studies were performed in rodent obesity models. Though, are these obesity rodent models really the best for acupuncture or related therapies research studies? In this study, we review different obesity animal models that have been used over the past 10 years for acupuncture and EA research studies. We present their respective advantages, disadvantages, and specific constraints. With the development of research on acupuncture and EA and the increasing interest regarding these approaches, proper animal models are critical for preclinical studies aiming at developing future clinical trials in the human. The aim of the present study is to provide researchers with information and guidance related to the preclinical models that are currently available to investigate the outcomes of acupuncture and related therapies.

Highlights

Obesity, which is considered as a pandemic, is highly prevalent in America and European countries
Financial, and practical constraints associated with randomized controlled trials (RCT), not all research on acupuncture and related therapies can be performed in the human
Preclinical explorations are needed before the onset of RCT, and the use of relevant animal models is justified

Summary

Introduction

Obesity, which is considered as a pandemic, is highly prevalent in America and European countries. Acupuncture and electroacupuncture (EA) are gaining more and more attention for their health outcomes and little adverse effects, though research exploring the outcomes of these therapies cannot be performed exclusively in humans because of ethics and practical constraints and because mechanistic studies are required, with the necessity to sample biological tissues when necessary Some factors such as diet and physical exercise are much easier to control in animal models compared to human volunteers. Because rodent gut-brain anatomy and functioning are very different from those in humans and because the analogy with behavioral and cognitive features of obesity in humans is better achieved with closer species in terms of ontogeny, large animal models should appear more relevant to study these particular questions. Time and EA treatment reduces BMI and WC as well as VAT volume and HFF frequency: three times a week for 3 months

design time frequency

General Discussion and Conclusions

Findings

Conflicts of Interest