Acupuncture decreases neuropeptide Y expression in the hypothalamus of rats with Streptozotocin-induced diabetes.
It has been known that acupuncture has various effects such as analgesia, promotion of homeostasis, improvements in brain circulation, and rectification of internal disorders. Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a 36-amino-acid peptide, is known to increase appetite. In the present study, the effect of acupuncture stimulation at Zusanli (St.36) on NPY expression in the Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was investigated via immunohistochemistry. Increased NPY expression was detected in both the Arcuate nucleus (ARN) and the Paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the Hypothalamus in rats with in STZ-induced diabetes. Needling on Zusanli resulted in decreased NPY levels in both the ARN and PVN of diabetic rats. The present study shows that acupuncture suppressed NPY expression in the ARN and PVN of the Hypothalamus in STZ-induced diabetic rats, suggesting the possibility that acupuncture treatment is effective in curbing the hyperphagia of diabetes.
Lee
Jae-Dong
JD
Dept of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, College of Oriental Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Jang
Mi-Hyeon
MH
Kim
Ee-Hwa
EH
Kim
Chang-Ju
CJ
D026881:Acupuncture / Q000379:methods*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D010455:Peptides; D013311:Streptozocin