The effects of electro-acupuncturing at Zusanli point on intestinal proinflammatory factors, diamine oxidase and tissue water content in rats with sepsis

Abstract

To investigate the protective effect of electro-acupuncturing (EA) at Zusanli point on sepsis induced ischemic and oxygen free radical intestinal injury in rats with sepsis. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were used to reproduce sepsis by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and they were randomly divided into four groups (each n=8): CLP+EA (CLP/EA), CLP+sham EA (CLP/SEA), vagotomy+CLP+SEA (VA/CLP/SEA) and vagotomy+CLP+EA (VA/CLP/EA). Zusanli point was electro-acupunctured with constant voltage (2-100 Hz,2 mA for 30 minutes) immediately after CLP surgery. Abdominal vagotomy was performed in rats in VA/CL/SEA and VA/CLP/SEA groups. Six hours after CLP, the mucosal blood flow of jejunum (JMBF) was measured. Animals were sacrificed after 6 hours and specimens of jejunum were harvested for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase (XOD), diamine oxidase (DAO) and assessment of the water content (WCR). JMBF and the activity of DAO of CLP/EA group were markedly higher, and the levels of XOD, MDA and WCR in jejunal tissue were obviously lower than those of CLP/SEA group (all P<0.05). The levels of JMBF and DAO of the VA/CLP/SEA group and VA/CLP/EA group were significantly lower, and XOD, MDA and WCR obviously higher than those of the CLP/EA group ( all P<0.05 ). There were no statistically differences in all above measurements between the VA/CLP/EA group and the VA/CLP/SEA group (all P>0.05). The results indicate that EA at Zusanli point obviously increased JMBF and DAO, and alleviated tissue edema and insult of intestinal mucosa. Vagotomy could weaken or eliminate the effects of EA. It is suggested that cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway is one of the main mechanisms of intestinal protective effect of EA at Zusanli point.