title: Low-Frequency Electroacupuncture Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Diabetic Mice through Activation of SIRT1/PGC-1α in Skeletal Muscle.
abstract: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been observed to reduce insulin resistance in obesity and diabetes. However, the biochemical mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of low-frequency EA on metabolic action in genetically obese and type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Nine-week-old db/m and db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, db/m, db/m + EA, db/db, and db/db + EA. db/m + EA and db/db + EA mice received 3-Hz electroacupuncture five times weekly for eight consecutive weeks. In db/db mice, EA tempered the increase in fasting blood glucose, food intake, and body mass and maintained insulin levels. In EA-treated db/db mice, improved insulin sensitivity was established through intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test. EA was likewise observed to decrease free fatty acid levels in db/db mice; it increased protein expression in skeletal muscle Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and induced gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX). These results indicated that EA offers a beneficial effect on insulin resistance in obese and diabetic db/db mice, at least partly, via stimulation of SIRT1/PGC-1α, thus resulting in improved insulin signal.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430061, China.
authors.forename: Fengxia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsuda
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Koya