title: [Effect of electroacupuncture at "Tianshu"(ST 25) on colonic smooth muscle structure and interstitial cells of cajal in slow transit constipation rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Tianshu" (ST 25) on colonic smooth muscle structure and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in slow transit constipation (STC) rats, so as to investigate its mechanism underlying improving STC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Wistar rats (n = 56) were randomly allocated to control (n = 20), model and EA groups (n = 18/ group). STC model was established by feeding the rats with forage containing compound Diphenoxylate. EA (0.8 - 1.3 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz) was applied to bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25) for 15 min, once daily for 14 days. The treatment was given beginning from the next day on after the rat's first black stool excretion was found. The colonic smooth muscle structure was observed under microscope after sectioning and HE staining. The immunoactivity (average optical density, OD) of intestinal immuno-reaction (IR) po-sitive ICC product was detected by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) Microscopic observation displayed that after modeling, the rat's intestinal mucosa gland showed atrophy with reduction in the acinar number, being sparse in distribution; and the smooth muscle thickness was obviously thinner compared with the normal control group (P < 0.05). Whereas this situation of the colonic smooth muscle in the EA group was close to that of the normal control group. Compared with the model group, the thickness of the intestinal smooth muscle in the EA group was significantly bigger (P < 0.05). (2) Immunohistochemical results showed that the average OD values and number of IR-positive colonic ICC in the model group were obviously decreased in comparison with the normal control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the average OD values and the number of IR-positive coIonic ICC in the EA group were upregulated considerably (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA of bilateral "Tianshu"(ST 25) is able to improve STC-induced structural changes of the colonic smooth muscle, and upregulate expression of colonic ICC in STC rats, which may be responsible for its efficacy in improving STC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China. grace7612@126.com
authors.forename: Jian-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Lu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-Liang
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li-Xia
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Yong-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit; D006801:Humans; D056885:Interstitial Cells of Cajal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar