[Effects of electroacupuncture on the expression of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family and CRF receptor 1 in traumatic injury rats].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the effects of electroacupunture (EA) on the abnormal hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the expression of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) peptides family and CRF receptor (R)1 mRNA in traumatized rats, so as to study its underlying mechanism in improving traumatic injury.


METHODS
Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=10), normal+ EA group (n=10), surgical trauma (model) group (n=10), and model+ EA group (n=10). Traumatic injury model was established by performing an exploratory laparotomy in the rats under anesthesia. EA (2 Hz/15 Hz, 1-2 mA) was administered for 30 min via two stainless steel needles inserted in "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6). Serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) , corticosterone (Cort), luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone (T) contents were detected by double-antibody radioimmnoassay. Hypothalamic CRF and ORF R1 mRNA expression was assayed by reversed transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique.


RESULTS
The serum ACTH concentration decreased significantly in model group (P < 0.05) compared with those in normal control and normal+ EA groups, and was significantly higher in model+ EA group than that in model group (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found between normal control and normal+ EA groups in serum ACTH levels (P > 0.05). The serum Cort level increased significantly in model group (P < 0.05) compared with those in normal control and normal + EA groups, and was obviously lower in model+EA group than that in model group (P < 0.05). While serum LH and T contents had no apparent changes in the four groups (P > 0.05). The expression of hypothalamic CRF mRNA decreased significantly in model group (P < 0.05) compared with that in normal control group, but increased significantly in model + EA group (P < 0.05) compared with that in model group. However, no significant difference was found between normal control and normal + EA groups in the CRF mRNA expression level. The expression of hypothalamic Ucn 1 mRNA increased significantly in model group than that in normal control group (P < 0.05), and decreased considerably in model+ EA group than that in model group (P < 0.05). There were no significant changes in the expression of hyp, thalamic Ucn 2 mRNA, Ucn 3 mRNA and CRF R1 mRNA in the four groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
EA of "Zusanli" (ST 36) and "Sanyinjiao"(SP 6) can improve surgical trauma-induced HPA disorders, which is probably related to its effects in upregulating CRF mRNA expression and downregulating Ucn 1 mRNA expression in the hypothalamus.
Zhang
Yan
Y
Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
Ma
Shu-lan
SL
Chen
Bo-ying
BY
Tian
Zhan-zhuang
ZZ
D000818:Animals; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1
D018019:Receptors, Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D000099052:CRF Receptor, Type 1; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone