[Study on protective action of electroacupuncture on endotoxin-induced hepatic injury in rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe whether electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST 36) reduces endotoxin-induced hepatic injury in rats and to explore the mechanism.


METHODS
Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, a endotoxin group, an EA group, a normal group and a non-acupoint group. Hepatic injury rat model was prepared by injection of endotoxin (5 mg/kg) into the caudal vein, the normal group received the injection of the equal amount of saline; for the EA group, EA (2-100 Hz, 2 mA, 1.5 h) was given at "Zusanli" (ST 36) half an hour after modeling, and for the non-acupoint group, acupuncture was given at the point 5 mm lateral to and 5 mm below "Zusanli" (ST 36), and other treatments were as same as those in the EA group.


RESULTS
Injection of endotoxin into the caudal vein could significantly increase TNF-alpha content in the liver and plasma ALT activity (P<0.01), which were decreased by EA (P<0.01) and were not significantly changed in the non-acupoint group (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The abnormal increases of TNF-alpha content in the liver and plasma ALT activity induced by endotoxin can be decreased by EA at "Zusanli" (ST 36), protecting the organ, and the mechanism is possibly related with the decrease of TNF-alpha content in the liver.
Shi
Xian
X
General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China. 301sxian@sina.com
Song
Qi
Q
Hu
Sen
S
Li
Ze-Feng
ZF
Liu
Qian
Q
Wang
Lei
L
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D004731:Endotoxins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000410:Alanine Transaminase