title: [Effect of electroacupuncture stimulation of "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) on serum leptin and hepatocellular JAK 2-STAT 3 signaling in obese rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) on serum leptin level and expression of phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK 2) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT 3) proteins in the liver tissue of obese rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group, manual acupuncture (MA) group and EA group (n = 8 in each group). The obese model was induced by high fat diet for 8 weeks. MA or EA (20 Hz, 1.5 V) stimulation was applied to bilateral "Housanli" (ST 36) and "Zhongwan" (CV 12) for 20 min, once daily for 4 weeks. The animals' body weight and length were recorded, and Lee's index was calculated. Serum leptin level and liver p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression levels were detected using radioimmunoassay and Western blot, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In comparison with the control group, the rats' body weight, Lee's index, and serum leptin content were remarkably increased in the model group (P<0.05), while hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression levels were significantly down-regulated in the model group (P<0.05). After treatment for 4 weeks, the levels of body weight, Lee's index, serum leptin were significantly reduced (P<0.05), and hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression in the MA and EA groups were considerably up-regulated compared with the model group (P<0.05). The effect of EA was apparently superior to that of MA in up-regulating p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both EA and MA stimulation can reduce the obese rats' body weight, and Lee's index, which may be closely associated with their effects in down-regulating serum leptin and in enhancing hepatocellular p-JAK 2 and p-STAT 3 protein expression.
authors.forename: Zhi-kang
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Zhi-jie
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D053614:Janus Kinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C507927:Jak2 protein, rat; D053614:Janus Kinase 2