[Effects of electroacupuncture on hepatic blood flow and lipid peroxidation in septic rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the protection effects of electroacupuncture on injury of lipid peroxidation induced by liver ischemia in septic rats.


METHODS
Forty-eight male SD rats were subjected to sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and were randomly divided into a Sham operation group (group A), a CLP model group (group B), a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) group (group C), a CLP model plus electroacupuncture at the shame acupoint (group D), a vagotomy plus CLP model group (group E) and CLP model plus electroacupuncture group after vagotomy (group F), 8 rats in each group. CLP was performed in group E and group F after the abdominal vagotomy. Bilateral "Zusanli"(ST 36) points and the shame acupoint were electroacupunctured (2 mA, 2/100 Hz) for 1 hour in group C, group F and group D, respectively. The hepatic blood flow (HBF) was detected by a laser-Doppler flowmetry at 6 h after CLP. The plasma activity of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also determined and specimens of liver were harvested for evaluation of malondialdehyde (MDA), xanthine oxidase (XOD) and assessment of the rate of water content.


RESULTS
The blood flow of the liver was (56.97 +/- 11.95) U in group C which was significantly lower than (80.12 +/- 19.57) U in group A but higher than (42.61 +/- 10.97) U in group B, (44.53 +/- 9.23) U in group D, (30.05 +/- 4.46) U in group E and (30.46 +/- 6.38) U in group F (all P < 0.05) 6 h after CLP. Meanwhile, the levels of MDA, XOD, ALT and the rates of water content in liver in group C were all significantly higher than those in group A, but lower than those in the other four groups (all P < 0.05). The levels of MDA, XOD, ALT and the rates of water content in liver in group E and group F were all significantly higher than those in group D (all P < 0.05), while the blood flow of the liver lower than that in group D (P < 0.05), and with no significant differences in all above measurements between group E and group F (all P > 0. 05).


CONCLUSIONS
Electroacupuncture at "Zusanli" (ST 36) can promote hepatic blood flow, inhibit lipid peroxidation and alleviate hepatic edema and dysfunction in septic rats, which might be related with the completeness of cranial nerve.
Shi
Xian
X
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, General Hospital of Chinese PLA, Beijing 100853, China. 301sxian@sina.com
Zhang
Li-Jian
LJ
Bai
Hui-Ying
HY
Bao
Cheng-Mei
CM
Hu
Sen
S
Guan
Ling
L
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000378:metabolism
D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase