title: Influence of catgut implantation at acupoints on leptin and insulin resistance in simple obesity rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of catgut implantation at acupoints on leptin resistance (LR) and insulin resistance (IR) in the simple obesity rat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were made obese with high-fat diets, after which surgical catgut was implanted at Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiting (ST 44) acupoints once a week for 4 weeks (implantation group). Rats from the implantation group were compared with normal rats and unoperated obese rats (control group). Gene expression of the leptin receptor (OB-R) was evaluated using RT-PCR and northern blot. Serum and hypothalamus leptin and insulin (INS) levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. Body weight, Lee's index, body fat, serum and hypothalamus leptin and INS levels, and hypothalamic OB-R gene expression were determined before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body weights, Lee's index, body fat, and serum leptin and INS levels were significantly higher in obese than in normal rats. Hypothalamic leptin and INS levels and OB-R gene expression were significantly lower in obese rats. Catgut implantation at acupoint promoted weight loss and decreased serum leptin and INS levels. Hypothalamic leptin and INS levels and OB-R gene expression increased significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Catgut implantation at acupoint adjusts central and peripheral leptin and promotes hypothalamic OB-R gene expression. This may be an important method for regulation of LR, IR and abnormal endocrinology and metabolism.
authors.affiliation: College of Cosmetology Medicine of Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China.
authors.forename: Runhu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Jinsong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002398:Catgut / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin