title: Effects of electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu (ST 37) on interleukin-1beta and interleukin-4 in the ulcerative colitis model rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To probe into the mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) at Shangjuxu (ST 37) for treatment of the ulcerative colitis (UC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: a normal group, a model group, a Shangjuxu group and a non-acupoint group, 10 rats in each group. The UC rat model was made with enema of trinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (TNBSA), and the changes of interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) contents after EA at Shangjuxu (ST 37) were observed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EA at Shangjuxu (ST 37) could significantly decrease the IL-1beta content and increase the IL-4 content in the colic tissues of the UC rats with significant differences as compared with the model group and the non-acupoint group (P<0.05 or P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mechanisms of EA at Shangjuxu (ST 37) for treatment of the UC rats is possibly related with the decrease of IL-1beta, a inflammation-promoting cytokine, and the increase of IL-4, a anti-inflammatory cytokine.
authors.affiliation: The Preclinical Medical College, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410007, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chu-tao
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qian-yun
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wen-feng
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Ping-guo
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015847:Interleukin-4