title: Repeated application of low-frequency electroacupuncture improves high-fructose diet-induced insulin resistance in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Insulin resistance is frequently present in obesity and during the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on high-fructose diet (HFD)-induced insulin resistance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male Wistar rats were fed HFD for 4 weeks and developed insulin resistance. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by clamp. The number of animals was seven, eight and seven in the control, HFD and HFD+EA groups, respectively. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) in skeletal muscle were measured by Western blotting analysis (n=7 in each group). EA stimulation was carried out 12 times over 4 weeks at an intensity of 1-3 mA and a frequency of 2/15 Hz in a conscious state without restraint.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in mean body weight and fasting blood glucose concentration between groups at the end of the experiment. The mean glucose infusion rate during the clamp was significantly lower in the HFD group than in controls (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in expression of GLUT4 in skeletal muscle in the control and each group. Phosphorylated AMPKα (Thr172) in skeletal muscle showed a significant increase immediately after the final EA stimulation when compared with the control group (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Repeated application of EA is capable of improving diet-induced insulin resistance, probably through activation of AMPK signalling pathways in skeletal muscle. These results suggest that repeated application of EA may have beneficial effects on diet-induced insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Meiji University of Integrative Medicine, Hiyoshi-cho, Nantan-shi, Kyoto 629-0392, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tominaga
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishizaki
authors.forename: Yoshihisa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Naruse
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitakoji
authors.forename: Yoshiharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamamura
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005632:Fructose / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D051275:Glucose Transporter Type 4; D005632:Fructose; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases; D005947:Glucose