Acupoints Of Stomach Meridian Research Articles

Dynamic Analysis of Metabolic Response in Gastric Ulcer (GU) Rats with Electroacupuncture Treatment Using 1H NMR-Based Metabolomics.

Gastric ulcer (GU), a common digestive disease, has a high incidence and seriously endangers health of human. According to the previous studies, it has been proved that electroacupuncture at acupoints of stomach meridian had a good effect on GU. However, there are few published studies on metabolic response in gastric ulcer (GU) rats with electroacupuncture treatment. Herein, we observed the metabolic profiles in biological samples (stomach, liver, and kidney) of GU rats with electroacupuncture treatment by 1H NMR metabolomics combined with pathological examination. The male SD rats were induced by intragastric administration of 70% ethanol after fasting for 24 hours and treated by electroacupuncture at Zusanli (ST36) and Liangmen (ST21) for 1 day, 4 days, or 7 days, respectively. And the conventional histopathological examinations as well as metabolic pathways assays were also performed. We found that GU rats were basically cured after electroacupuncture treatment for 4 days and had a complete recovery after electroacupuncture treatment for 7 days by being modulated comprehensive metabolic changes, involved in the function of neurotransmitters, energy metabolism, cells metabolism, antioxidation, tissue repairing, and other metabolic pathways. These findings may be helpful to facilitate the mechanism elucidating of electroacupuncture treatment on GU.

Time-effect relationship and molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture for repair of gastric mucosal lesion

To dynamically observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on repair of gastric mucosal lesion in rats with gastric ulcer, and to explore the time-effect relationship and molecular mechanism of EA for gastric ulcer. A total of 72 SD rats were randomly assigned to a normal group, a model group, a acupoint group and a sham acupoint group, and each group were further divided into a 1-day subgroup, a 4-day subgroup and a 7-day subgroup, 6 rats in each subgroup. The rat model of gastric ulcer was established by using intragastric administration of ethyl alcohol. The rats in the acupoint group were treated with EA at"Zusanli"(ST 36) and"Liangmen"(ST 21); the rats in the sham acupoint group were treated with EA at points 5 mm next to"Zusanli"(ST 36) and"Liangmen"(ST 21); the EA was given 30 min per treatment, once a day. The rats in the normal group and model group were treated with immobilization for 30 min per day, and no EA was given. PR-PCR method was applied to test the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and substance P (SP); Western blot method was applied to test the expression of neurotensin (NT). After 1-day treatment, the ulcer index in the model group was higher than that in the normal group (P<0.01), and the expression of PCNA, SP and NT was decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); compared with the model group and sham acupoint group, the ulcer index was decreased in the acupoint group (both P<0.05), and the expression of PCNA and SP was up-regulated (all P<0.05) while that of NT was up-regulated (both P<0.01). After 4-day treatment, the ulcer index in the model group was reduced but still higher than that in the normal group (P<0.05), and the expression of PCNA, SP and NT was up-regulated and higher than that in the normal group (all P<0.01); the ulcer index in the acupoint group was similar to that in the normal group (P>0.05), and the expression of PCNA and SP was lower than that in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05), and the expression of NT was not significantly different from that in the model group (P>0.05). After 7-day treatment, the differences of indexes above were not significant among the four groups (all P>0.05). EA at acupoints of stomach meridian has two-way regulation on PCNA and SP and improve the expression of NT in different pathological state of gastric ulcer, which could further improve the repair of gastric ulcer.

Action mechanism of electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints for oxidative damage in rats with gastric ulcer

To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) at stomach meridian acupoints on expression of oxidation damage factors in serum and gastric mucosal cells in rats with gastric ulcer, and to explore the mechanism of EA at stomach meridian acupoints for oxidative damage in rats with gastric ulcer. Forty clean-grade SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a stomach meridian group and a gallbladder meridian group, ten rats in each one. Except the normal group, rats in the remaining groups were applied the restraint-cold stress method to establish the model of gastric ulcer. Rats in the normal group and model group received no treatment; rats in the stomach meridian group were treated with EA at "Liangmen" (ST 21) and "Zusanli" (ST 36); rats in the gallbladder meridian group were treated with EA at "Riyue" (GB 24) and "Yanglingquan" (GB 34). The EA was given for 30 min, once a day for 7 days totally. The change of gastric mucosal morphology was observed by routine light microscope; enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the expressions of malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-2(IL-2), interleukin-6(IL-6) in serum and gastric mucosal cells of rats. After treatment, compared with the model group, the gastric mucosal damage index was decreased in the stomach meridian group and gallbladder meridian group (both P<0.05), the expressions of MDA, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-6 in serum and gastric mucosal cells were significantly decreased in the stomach meridian group (all P<0.01), but the contents of GSH-Px in serum and gastric mucosal cells were increased significantly (both P<0.01). Compared with the gallbladder meridian group, the gastric mucosal damage index as well as the expressions of MDA,TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-6 in serum and gastric mucosal cells were significantly decreased in the stomach meridian group rats (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the contents of GSH-px in serum and gastric mucosal cells were increased significantly (both P<0.01). EA at stomach meridian acupoints is likely to inhibit the expressions of oxidative damage factors to promote the repair of gastric mucosal injury, which indicates the correlation between meridians and zang-fu.

Effect of moxa-burning heat stimulating Liangmen (ST 21) and Zusanli (ST 36) on proliferation and apoptosis signaling proteins in rats with stress-induced gastric ulcer

ObjectiveTo observe the effect of moxa-burning heat stimulating acupoints of Liangmen (ST 21) and Zusanli (ST 36) on the proliferation and apoptosis signaling proteins in rats with stress-induced gastric ulcer. MethodsForty rats were randomly divided into four groups: negative control (NC), ulcer control (UC), acupoints of stomach meridian (ASM), and acupoints control (AC). The acute gastric ulcer model was established by bound and water immersion. Rats in NC and UC groups didn't receive any moxa-burning heat stimulating treatment, while rats in ASM and AC groups were treated with buringmoxa heat stimulating the acupoints of Liangmen (ST 21) and Zusanli (ST 36) and their controlled points, respectively. Rats in all groups were sacrificed after 12 consecutive days treatment. The ulcer index was evaluated by using Guth's method. The expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), apoptotic protease activating facter-1 (Apaf-1), Caspase-3, p21 activated kinase 1 (PAK1), extracellular regulated protein kinases 2 (ERK2), phosphorylated ERK2 (pERK2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt) in gastric mucosa was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). ResultsCompared with UC group, the ulcer index of ASM and AC groups decreased, and the injured gastric mucosa was improved, the expression of TNF-α, Apaf-1 and Caspase-3 in gastric mucosa was significantly reduced (P < 0.05), while the expression of PAK1, ERK2, pERK2, PI3K and Akt in gastric mucosa was significantly increased (P < 0.05). And ASM showed better effect than AC group (P < 0.05). ConclusionMoxa-burning Heat stimulating of Liangmen (ST 21) and Zusanli (ST 36) could promote the recovery of gastric mucosal lesion probably by inhibiting cell apoptosis and promoting cell proliferation in stress-induced gastric ulcer.

Analysis of the resistances at the stomach meridian acupoints in chronic atrophic gastritis patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes

Objective To detect and analyze the resistance at the stomach meridian acupoints in chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG) patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes, summarize the status of asthenia-sthenia at stomach meridian under this condition, in order to guide the clinical therapy with acupuncture and moxibustion. Methods From 2010 January to 2013 December, 83 CAG patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes were collected from No.306 Hospital of the PLA, the surface resistances on the bilateral stomach meridian stomach acupoints were detected,including Lidui, Neiting, Xiangu, Chongyang, Jiexi, Fenglong,Zusanli, Liangqiu, and the non-acupoints 1cm lateral to the point were set as controls. Zhu auricle holographic detector was adopted to detect the resistance at 20 points (about 0.5 cm2 around the acupoints) in each acupoint, and the average value was calculated as the resistance value. Results The resistances on the left Chongyang and right Chongyang were (9.64 ± 2.03) kΩ and (9.68 ± 2.02) kΩ, respectively, both were significantly lower than those on other acupoints, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.01); the resistances on the left Liangqiu and right Liangqiu were (13.44 ± 2.11) kΩ and (13.68 ± 2.12) kΩ, respectively, both were significantly higher than those on other acupoints (all P<0.01). Conclusions The resistance on the stomach meridian stomach acupoints in CAG patients with spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes is different, which may reflect the basic pathogenesis of CAG being the weakness of the spleen and stomach, qi stagnation and blood stasis. Key words: Gastritis, atrophic; Electric impedance; Points, stomach meridian; Spleen-stomach deficiency-cold syndromes

(1) H NMR Metabolic Profiling of Biofluids from Rats with Gastric Mucosal Lesion and Electroacupuncture Treatment.

Gastric mucosal lesion (GML) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with multiple pathogenic mechanisms in clinical practice. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), electroacupuncture (EA) treatment has been proven as an effective therapy for GML, although the underlying healing mechanism is not yet clear. Here, we used proton nuclear magnetic resonance- (1H NMR-) based metabolomic method to investigate the metabolic perturbation induced by GML and the therapeutic effect of EA treatment on stomach meridian (SM) acupoints. Clear metabolic differences were observed between GML and control groups, and related metabolic pathways were discussed by means of online metabolic network analysis toolbox. By comparing the endogenous metabolites from GML and GML-SM groups, the disturbed pathways were partly recovered towards healthy state via EA treated on SM acupoints. Further comparison of the metabolic variations induced by EA stimulated on SM and the control gallbladder meridian (GM) acupoints showed a quite similar metabolite composition except for increased phenylacetylglycine, 3,4-dihydroxymandelate, and meta-hydroxyphenylacetate and decreased N-methylnicotinamide in urine from rats with EA treated on SM acupoints. The current study showed the potential application of metabolomics in providing further insight into the molecular mechanism of acupuncture.

Clinical study on treatment of obesity of gastrointestinal excessive heat by puncturing acupoints of stomach meridian

To investigate the function of the acupoints of the stomach meridian in the treatment of obesity of gastrointestinal excessive heat. Methods: Fifty-one cases of the patients with obesity of gastrointestinal excessive heat were randomly allocated into two groups.The acupoints of the stomach meridian were mainly selected for the treatment group (A), and the combination of Back-Shu and Front-Mu points were used for the control group (B). The treatment was given once every other day, with one month as a course, 3 courses in total, to observe the changes in the symptoms and signs of the patients and to determine the obesity index before and after treatments and the experimental indexes such as leptin, blood lipids,blood sugar and ACHE. Results: In comparison of the control group, various obesity indexes could be significantly reduced (P＜0.01), hyperleptinemia and fat metabolic disturbance could significantly improved (both P＜0.05) and the imbalance status of the parasympathetic hyperfunction could be significantly reversed (P＜0.05) in the patients with obesity in the treatment group. Conclusion: The stomach-meridian acupoints can function on many rings in the occurrence and development of obesity and are key and effective acupoints for obesity of gastrointestinal excessive heat.

Expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling substances in gastric mucosal cells influenced by serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints

To study the effects of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expressions of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling substances phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), protein kinase C (PKC) and c-myc in gastric mucosal cells. Sixty rats were randomly divided into normal group, stomach meridian group, gallbladder meridian group, stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group. Water-immersion and restrained stress methods were adopted for inducing gastric mucosal injury in the rats. Gastric mucosal cells were separated by using pronase digestion method, and incubated by PD153035, a EGFR inhibitor, and 100 ml/L serum. The expression of PLC gamma-1 in the gastric mucosal cells was tested by enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while the expression of PKC by isotope incorporate assay and the expression of c-myc by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay (RT-PCR). In gastric mucosal cells, weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the normal group, and relatively strong expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group, among which, the expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc in the stomach meridian group were the strongest, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the gallbladder meridian group (P<0.01). Relative weak expressions of PLC gamma-1, PKC and c-myc were seen in the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group and the gallbladder meridian plus PD153035 group, and there was a significant difference between the stomach meridian group and the stomach meridian plus PD153035 group (P<0.01). The serum derived from the rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can activate the EGFR singling pathway, and this provides an evidence for the theory of "relative particularity between meridians and viscera" in traditional Chinese medicine.

Effects of EGFR expression on gastric mucosa cells by the serum derived from stress rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints

目的 研究电针应激性胃溃疡大鼠胃经穴后血清对胃黏膜细胞表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)表达的影响.方法 采用水浸束缚法制作应激性胃溃疡大鼠模型,52只大鼠随机分为空白组、模型组、模型血清组、胃经血清组和胆经血清组,利用链霉蛋白酶消化法分离大鼠胃黏膜细胞,用100ml/L血清孵育,采用免疫细胞化学法和逆转录聚合酶链反应法检测胃黏膜细胞EGFR的表达水平.结果 胃经血清组和胆经血清组[其吸光度比分别为(1.2272±0.0813)%;(0.9640±0.0387)%]大鼠胃黏膜细胞EGFR呈现较强表达,与空白组、模型组和模型血清组[其吸光度比分别为(0.6860±0.0594)%;(0.7104±0.0457)%;(0.8516±0.0409)%]比较差异有显著性(P＜0.01),其中胃经血清组大鼠胃黏膜细胞EGFR表达最为强烈,与胆经血清组比较差异有显著性(P＜0.01).结论 电针应激性胃溃疡大鼠胃经穴后的血清能明显上调大鼠胃黏膜细胞EGFR的表达,并且存在经脉-脏腑的特异性联系。

Enhanced expression of epidermal growth factor receptor gene in gastric mucosal cells by the serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints

To investigate the effect of serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints on the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in gastric mucosal cells. The stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rat model was established by water-immersion and restrained stress methods. 52 rats were randomly divided into: normal group (n = 8), model group (n = 8), model serum group (n = 12), stomach serum group (n = 12), and gallbladder serum group (n = 12). The gastric mucosal cells were separated by pronase-EDTA digestion method and incubated with serum. The EGFR gene expression in gastric mucosal cells was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Compared with normal group (0.6860 +/- 0.0594), the serum derived from rats of the stomach group (1.2272 +/- 0.0813, P = 0.00 < 0.01) and gallbladder group (0.9640 +/- 0.0387, P = 0.00 < 0.01) had a tendency to enhance the EGFR gene expression in gastric mucosal cells. Such tendency existed in the model group (0.7104 +/- 0.0457) but with no significant difference (P = 0.495 > 0.05) and in model serum group (0.8516 +/- 0.0409) with an extremely obvious difference (P = 0.001 < 0.01). Furthermore, the EGFR gene expression in stomach serum group was significantly higher than that in gallbladder serum group (P = 0.00 < 0.01). The present study shows that serum derived from rats treated with electroacupuncture at stomach meridian acupoints can distinctly increase the EGFR gene expression of gastric mucosal cells. Therefore, there is certain meridian specificity in the serum, which could provide a proof for the TCM theory "particular relation between meridian and internal organ".

The Effect of EA on the Gastric Mucosal Histology and ITF mRNA Expression in Stress-Induced Rats

This study focuses on the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the gastric mucosal histology and ITF (intestinal trefoil factor) mRNA in stress-related rat, and the relationship between the gastric protective mechanism of EA at acupoints of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (SMFY) group and Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang (GMFS) group. Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: blank control group (BCG), model control group (MCG), SMFY group (EA at acupoints of SMFY for 7 days before model inducing), and GMFS group (EA at acupoints of GMFS for 7 days before model inducing). All rats (except normal group) were made model by water immersion and restriction (WRS) on day 7, then the gastric mucosal lesion index (GUI) was accessed, ITF mRNA expression of the tissue was detected by reverse- transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method, and the histological change under light microscope was observed. As a result, the GUI value in SMFY/GMFS groups decreased significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01). The level of ITF mRNA expression in SMFY group was significantly higher than that in MCG (p < 0.01), while that in GMFS group was higher than MCG but there was no statistical difference (p < 0.05). This result may be due to the intrinsic mechanism of EA's gastric mucosal protection by the upregulation of ITF mRNA expression in gastric mucosal tissue, and the expression variance indicated the classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory "Relative Particularity between SMFY and Stomach.".

Effect of electroacupunture on gastric mucosal intestinal trefoil factor gene expression of stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats

To investigate electroacupuncture(EA) at the acupoints of Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming (SMFY), Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Yangming (SMFY) on gastric mucosal intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) gene expression detection in stress-induced rats with gastric mucosal lesion, and to explore the regulatory mechanism and significance of EA-related gastric mucosal protective effect. Forty rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Blank group, Model group, Model group+EA at acupoints of SMFY group ("SMFY group"), and Model group+EA at acupoints of GMFY group(GMFY group). All rats (except blank group) were made model by water immersion and restraint stress (WRS). Then the gastric mucosa tissue in each rat was taken off after assessment of gastric mucosal lesion index(GUI), and the expression of ITF mRNA of the tissues was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Compared with Model group(54.3+/- 1.34), the GUI value in SMFY group (31+/- 2.21) decreased significantly(P< 0.01), so did that in GMFY group (39.8+/- 1.62, P< 0.05), meanwhile GUI value in SMFY group was significantly lower than in GMFY group(P< 0.01). Compared with Model group (0.65+/- 0.01), EA had a tendency to improve the expression of gastric mucosal ITFmRNA gene: such tendency existed in GMFY group (0.66+/- 0.01) but with no significant difference(P>0.05), in SMFY group(0.76+/- 0.01) with an extremely obvious difference (P< 0.01), furthermore the expression in SMFY group was significantly higher than in GMFY group (P< 0.01). The gastric mucosal protective effect by EA at the acupoints of SMFY and GMFY was related to the expression variance of ITF, indicating certain meridian specificity exists. It could be one proof for the TCM theory "Relative particularity between SMFY and stomach".