title: Therapeutic effects of electroacupuncture at ST36 acupoint on sodium-taurocholate-induced severe acute pancreatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the protective effects and mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in rats with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to three groups of 22 each: a SAP model group (SAP group), a shamoperated group (sham group) and a EA at ST36 acupoint group (EA group). A rat model of SAP was induced by pancreatic duct injection with 3.5% sodium taurocholate. EA was performed at ST36 acupoint for 30 min after induction of SAP and 30 min before sacrificed. The rats were killed at 3 h (n=7), 6 h (n=7) and 12 h (n=8) after operation, and blood samples were taken for the measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and acetylcholine (Ach) by enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay. The pathological changes of pancreatic tissue, volume of ascites and pancreatic weight/body weight ratio were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 in the EA group were significantly lower than in the SAP group at 3, 6 and 12 h after the operation (p<0.05). Serum Ach in the EA group was significantly higher than in the SAP group at various time points after operation (p<0.05). The other parameters were clearly improved after treatment with EA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EA at ST36 acupoint might have a therapeutic effect in rats with SAP through activating the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Qi-ming
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Cheng-wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000378:metabolism; D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013656:Taurocholic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013656:Taurocholic Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine
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