scholarly journals Electroacupuncture Regulates Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction by Decreasing Corticotropin-Releasing Factor in a Rat Model of IBS

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Ying Chen ◽  
Yan Zhao ◽  
Dan-ni Luo ◽  
Hui Zheng ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
...  

Objective. Acupuncture is effective for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); however, the mechanisms of action are not fully understood. We aim to explore the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the dual regulation of disorders of gut-brain interaction. Methods. A rat model of IBS was generated by chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Eight of 32 rats were assigned to the blank control group. The remaining 24 rats received CUMS for 14 days. Then, the rats surviving and successfully modelled were randomly divided into the CUMS group, the CUMS+EA group, and the CUMS+PB (pinaverium bromide) group. In the next 14 days of treatment, rats in the CUMS+EA group were acupunctured at ST25 (Tianshu), ST36 (Zusanli), SP6 (Sanyinjiao), and LR3 (Taichong) for 15 min every day. Rats in the CUMS+PB group were treated by the administration of gavage with 2.7 mg/mL pinaverium every day. Visceral pain threshold, the percentage of time spent in open arms (OT%) in the elevated plus maze test (EPMT), and the sucrose preference (SP%) in the sucrose preference test (SPT) were measured at baseline, day 15, and day 30. The expression of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), the morphology of the connective structure of intestinal epithelium, the CRF and CRF-R1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, and the double staining of intestinal mucosal mast cells (IMMC) and CRF-R1 were measured at the end of the experiment. Results. Compared with the blank control group, visceral pain threshold pressure, the expression of ZO-1, OT%, SP%, CRF, and CRF-R1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus, and double staining of IMMC and CRF-R1 were decreased significantly in the CUMS group. Meanwhile, the morphology of the connective structure in the CUMS group was indistinct. Compared with the CUMS group, SP% was significantly increased in the CUMS+EA group, but there was no significant difference for it in the CUMS+PB group. The morphology of the connective structure in the two treatment groups was clear and seeable. And the expression of other parameters mentioned above was apparently increased in the two treatment groups. Compared with the CUMS+PB group, the expression of ZO-1 in the CUMS+EA group was significantly enhanced. And no obvious difference for other parameters was found between the two treatment groups. Conclusions. EA treatment can decrease the expression of hypothalamic CRF and CRF-R1, relieve anxiety and depression, meanwhile reduce the expression of CRF-R1 in the gastrointestinal mucosa, increase ZO-1 expression, and adjust tight junctions (TJs) to repair the intestinal mucosal barrier. The above roles suggest that EA may play a dual role in alleviating the gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms of IBS, suggesting a potentially dual therapeutic role for EA in regulating disorders of gut-brain interaction in IBS rats.

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Zhao ◽  
Huiling Tian ◽  
Hongtao Song ◽  
Xu Wang ◽  
Tong Luo ◽  
...  

The current study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) treatment applied to Bai hui (GV20) and Yin tang (GV29) acupoints (1 mA, 2 Hz, continuous wave, 20 minutes) for 28 days in a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on reuptake of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)) and miRNA-16 levels in the hippocampus and serum. Rats were housed in individual cages, and CUMS was used to establish a rat model of depression. After EA treatment for 4 weeks, behavioral changes and indices including 5-HT transporter (SERT), 5-HT, and miRNA-16 levels in the hippocampus and serum were examined. The EA treatment significantly improved base levels of sucrose preference and exploratory behavior and significantly decreased SERT protein and mRNA expression in the hippocampus of depressed rats. Significantly increased 5-HT levels were observed, and miRNA-16 levels were significantly decreased in the hippocampus and serum of depressed rats. In conclusion, the antidepressant effects of EA treatment may be affected via inhibition of 5-HT reuptake, upregulation of 5-HT levels, and inhibition of miRNA-16 expression in the hippocampus and serum.


2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-54
Author(s):  
Hong Zhang

Abstract Objective: To observe the expression levels of serum high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) , nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 (α7 nAChR) and nuclear factor kappa-B mRNA(NF-κB mRNA) in colon tissue after electroacupuncture (EA) on Shangjuxu, Zusanli, Xiajuxu,Yanglingquan and Chengjin points, by comparison of the different effects we could thus explore the relative specificity of Shangjuxu on treating its corresponding viscera’ s disease. Methods: Seventy SD rats were randomly assigned to seven groups labeled by blank control (A), Model (B), Shang Ju Xu (C), Zu San Li (D), Xia Ju Xu (E), Yang Ling Quan (F), Cheng Jin (G), ten (half males and half females) in each group. Except for the blank control group, animals in other groups were modeled to ulcerative colitis (UC) by lavation of 2-4-6 trinitro-benzene-sulfonic acid (TNBS)/ethanol solution. After successful modeling animals in the five treatment groups were respectively treated with electroaccupuncture at corresponding acupoint for 10 consecutive days. Then histological changes in the colon were observed by light microscopy. ELISA method was used to check models’serum HMGB1 content, and α7 nAChR in the colon were detected by western blot , RT-PCR was used to detecte NF-κB mRNA. Results: ① Compared with the model group, the tissue injury changes in 5 treatment groups improved to a certain extent, and the colon tissue NF-κB mRNA expression of them decreasd signifcantly(P<0.01),as well, the α7 nAChR expression of Shang Ju Xu group, Zu San Li group and Xia Ju Xu group increased signifcantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and their serum HMGB1 content made obvious decrease(P<0.01 or P<0.05), the α7 nAChR expression in Yang Ling Quan group was also increased significantly(P<0.01). ② Compared with Shang Ju Xu group, the tissue injury changes of groups including Xia Ju Xu,Yang Ling Quan and Cheng Jin are much severe under light microscope, and the α7 nAChR expression of them decreased with significance(P<0.01),both serum HMGB1 content and colon tissue NF-κB mRNA expression increased significantly as well(P<0.01),the serum HMGB1 content of Zu San Li group also increased significantly(P<0.01). Conclusion: ① Electroacupuncture on all five different acupoints can improve the UC through regulating HMGB1, α7 nAChR and NF-κB mRNA, and effectively inhibiting the immune response, reducing inflammatory response of colon and improving pathological changes of colonic mucosa. ②The effect of treating UC inflammation in rats when electroacupuncture at Shang Ju Xu was better than Zu San Li, Xiajuxu, Yang Ling Quan and Cheng Jin, which demonstrated that Shangjuxu treating UC has some relative specificity.


2015 ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. GOVENDER ◽  
A. NADAR

Oxidative stress is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, and is an important etiological factor in the development of hypertension. Recent experimental evidence suggests that subpressor doses of angiotensin II elevate oxidative stress and blood pressure. We aimed to investigate the oxidative stress related mechanism by which a subpressor dose of angiotensin II induces hypertension in a normotensive rat model. Normotensive male Wistar rats were infused with a subpressor dose of angiotensin II for 28 days. The control group was sham operated and infused with saline only. Plasma angiotensin II and H2O2 levels, whole-blood glutathione peroxidase, and AT-1a, Cu/Zn SOD, and p22phox mRNA expression in the aorta was assessed. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were elevated in the experimental group. There was no change in angiotensin II levels, but a significant increase in AT-1a mRNA expression was found in the experimental group. mRNA expression of p22phox was increased significantly and Cu/Zn SOD decreased significantly in the experimental group. There was no significant change to the H2O2 and GPx levels. Angiotensin II manipulates the free radical-antioxidant balance in the vasculature by selectively increasing O2− production and decreasing SOD activity and causes an oxidative stress induced elevation in blood pressure in the Wistar rat.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Fahami Nur Azlina ◽  
Yusof Kamisah ◽  
Kien Hui Chua ◽  
Hj Mohd Saad Qodriyah

The present study aims to distinguish the effect of tocotrienol on an important gastric protective factor, prostaglandin E2(PGE2), in stress-induced gastric injury. Twenty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups of seven rats each. Two control groups were fed commercial rat diet, and two treatment groups were fed the same diet but with additional dose of omeprazole (20 mg/kg) or tocotrienol (60 mg/kg). After 28 days, rats from one control group and both treated groups were subjected to water-immersion restraint stress for 3.5 hours once. The rats were then sacrificed, their stomach isolated and gastric juice collected, lesions examined, and gastric PGE2content and cyclooxygenase (COX) mRNA expression were determined. Both the regimes significantly attenuated the total lesion area in the stomach compared to the control. Gastric acidity, which was increased in stress, was significantly reduced in rats supplemented with omeprazole and tocotrienol. The PGE2content was also significantly higher in the rats given tocotrienol supplementation compared to the control followed by an increase in COX-1 mRNA expression. We conclude that tocotrienol supplementation protected rat gastric mucosa against stress-induced lesions possibly by reducing gastric acidity and preserving gastric PGE2by increasing COX-1 mRNA.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H R Helmi ◽  
A P Sunjaya ◽  
D Limanan ◽  
A R Prijanti ◽  
S W A Jusman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Apelin, an adipokine peptide and its receptor has recently emerged as a key signaling pathway in maintaining cardiac performance at chronic pressure loads. Apelin has been linked to ventricular dysfunction and therefore maybe of pathophysiologic relevance as a candidate biomarker in HF patients. Purpose This study aims to investigate Apelin-13 gene expression and level, and Apelin receptor (APJ) level in a rat model of heart failure induced by chronic systemic hypoxia and their correlation to BNP-45 gene expression and level, the current gold standard biomarker for heart failure, and to cardiac histopathologic changes. The effect of chronic systemic hypoxia on cardiac hypertrophy, remodeling and heart failure parameters is also of interest. Methods Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats (8–12 weeks of age) were placed in special hypoxic chambers divided into 7 groups – a control group provided with normoxia (atmospheric O2 levels) and 6 exposure groups exposed to hypoxia (8% O2) for 6 hours, 1, 3, 5, 7 and 14 days respectively prior to measurement. Changes in the expression of Apelin and BNP-45 were measured using quantitative real-time PCR, whereas changes in Apelin-13, APJ and BNP-45 levels were measured using ELISA. Histopathology staining using Hematoxylin and Eosin was performed on cardiac tissues post-termination. Results Compared to control, BNP-45 mRNA expression in the hypoxic heart was only significantly different in day 14, whereas, Apelin mRNA expression had showed significantly higher values starting from day 7 onward. This is in line with the evidence of cardiac hypertrophy based on histopathologic examination present from day 7 onwards. BNP-45 and Apelin-13 levels were significantly higher compared to control from day 5 onwards with a peak on day 7. Although significantly higher than control, Apelin-13 and BNP-45 level decreases in day 14 as compared to day 7. Mean APJ levels showed a similar profile with Apelin-13 and BNP-45 levels with a peak in day 7 (4.619 ng/mL). The cardiac Apelin-13 level shows strong significant correlation with BNP-45 levels (r 0.823, p-value 0.0001). There was also a strong significant correlation between APJ receptor levels with Apelin-13 (r 0.9029, p-value 0.001) and BNP-45 (r 0.9062, p-value 0.0009) levels. Apelin-13, APJ and BNP-45 levels also showed strong significant positive correlation to the duration of hypoxia exposure. Conclusion Chronic (≥5 days) and not acute systemic hypoxia in an experimental rat model leads to increase in Apelin-13, APJ and BNP-45 levels. Apelin-13 and BNP-45 were found to significantly increase from 5 days onwards. Apelin mRNA expression was found to show significant increase earlier compared to BNP-45 mRNA expression. Hence, Apelin may serve as a new candidate biomarker for detection of HF due to oxidative stress compared to BNP-45. Exposure to chronic systemic hypoxia can serve as an easily replicable rat model for heart failure. Acknowledgement/Funding Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tarumanagara University, Jakarta, Indonesia


Author(s):  
Junaidi Khotib ◽  
Naning Windi Utami ◽  
Maria Apriliani Gani ◽  
Chrismawan Ardianto

Abstract Background Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease in the joints. One of the proinflammatory cytokines that is thought to have a major role in the inflammatory process, the emergence of pain, and cartilage damage in OA is tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Meloxicam is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug class of drugs that is relatively selective in inhibiting the activity of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) formation. This study is conducted to prove the change in TNF-α level in the use of meloxicam with model in animals suffering from OA. Methods The OA rat model was induced with sodium monoiodoacetate intra-articularly. Rats were divided into 5 groups: negative control group, positive control group, and treatment groups with various doses of meloxicam. Hyperalgesia effect was evaluated using a warm plate test, and TNF-α level was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The treatment groups that received meloxicam at a dose of 1.0, 3.0, or 10.0 mg/kg body weight (BW) did not show significant differences in rat knee joint diameter (p = 0.99), but showed a significant difference in sensitivity to heat stimulation (p = 0.02) compared to the control group. Osteoarthritis rats experienced a significant reduction in TNF-α level after being given meloxicam at a dose of 10 mg/kg BW compared with the control group. This shows that the 10 mg/kg BW of meloxicam is a potential dose in reducing the TNF-α level in OA rat models. Conclusions Based on these data, it can be concluded that the inhibition of pain and the development of OA by meloxicam in animal models may be assigned to a decreased level of TNF-α.


2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (06) ◽  
pp. 1005-1014
Author(s):  
Xi-Ping Li ◽  
Jie Yan ◽  
Shou-Xiang Yi ◽  
Xiao-Rong Chang ◽  
Ya-Ping Lin ◽  
...  

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.".


2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kateřina Zadinová ◽  
Antonín Stratil ◽  
Mario Van Poucke ◽  
Luc J. Peelman ◽  
Jaroslav Čítek ◽  
...  

AbstractThe objective of this study was to investigate the effect of diets containing different levels of dried tuber of Jerusalem artichoke, Helianthus tuberosus, on skatole levels in back fat and on the CYP2E1 mRNA expression in the liver of commercial crossbred pigs. A total of 23 uncastrated male pigs from 10 litters of a commercial crossbred population of Large White × (Landrace × Large White), were used in this study. Boars were randomly divided into four different dietary treatment groups - a control group (K1; 5 boars; without supplementation of Jerusalem artichoke,) and three experimental groups (6 boars each) that were fed with the diet containing different levels of dried Jerusalem artichoke (K2 – 4.1%; K3 – 8.2%; K4 – 12.2%) for 14 days before slaughter. Significant effects of diet on skatole levels were observed between the control group and the experimental groups (P = 0.0078). The lowest level of skatole was in the K3 group with 8.2% of Jerusalem artichoke. As for CYP2E1, a negative correlation was observed between the levels of skatole and CYP2E1 mRNA expression. Significant effect (P = 0.0055) was found in all experimental groups compared to the K1 group, and most pronounced in the K2 and K3 groups. The supplementation with Jerusalem artichoke resulted in lower level of skatole and higher CYP2E1 mRNA expression. The results suggest that affecting the expression of CYP2E1 by feed supplements could be an option to effectively reduce the levels of skatole in adipose tissue of entire male pigs.


2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (5) ◽  
pp. 375-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basma Ismail ◽  
Sawsan Aboul-Fotouh ◽  
Amal A. Mansour ◽  
Hanan H. Shehata ◽  
Manal I. Salman ◽  
...  

There is accumulating evidence suggesting that depression is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to examine the hypothesis that the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-α would partially explain the link between depression and atherosclerotic endothelial changes. Rats were distributed among 6 groups: (i) control group; (ii) group subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS); (iii) group fed a cholesterol–cholic acid–thiouracil (CCT diet); and (iv) CMS group fed the CCT diet and treated with the vehicle for 8 weeks. The last 2 groups were subjected to CMS–CCT and received thalidomide (THAL) or imipramine (IMIP). Rats were assessed behaviorally (sucrose preference, open field, and forced-swimming tests). TNF-α protein was assessed from the serum, aorta, and liver. Aortic TNF-α gene expression (assessed using RT–PCR), serum lipid profile, and insulin levels were measured. Endothelial function was assessed in isolated aortic rings. The THAL and IMIP groups showed ameliorated CMS–CCT-related behavioral changes. CMS–CCT-induced metabolic and endothelial dysfunctions were improved in the THAL group but were worsened in the IMIP group. RT–PCR showed a significant reduction of aortic TNF-α mRNA expression in the THAL and IMIP treatment groups. These data paralleled the findings for aortic immunohistochemistry. The THAL group, but not the IMIP group, showed improved CMS–CCT-induced changes in the vascular reactivity of the aortic rings. Thus, TNF-α provides a target link between depression, metabolic syndrome, and endothelial dysfunction. This could open a new therapeutic approach to address the comorbidities of depression.


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