title: Electroacupuncture at Zusanli Prevents Severe Scalds-Induced Gut Ischemia and Paralysis by Activating the Cholinergic Pathway.
abstract: Severe burn injuries may result in gastrointestinal paralysis, and barrier dysfunction due to gut ischemia and lowered vagus excitability. In this study we investigate whether electroacupuncture (EA) at Zusanli (ST36) could prevent severe scalds-induced gut ischemia, paralysis, and barrier dysfunction and whether the protective role of EA at ST36 is related to the vagus nerve. 35% burn area rats were divided into six groups: (a) EAN: EA nonchannel acupoints followed by scald injury; (b) EA: EA at ST36 after scald injury; (c) VGX/EA: vagotomy (VGX) before EA at ST36 and scald injury; (d) VGX/EAN: VGX before EAN and scald injury; (e) atropine/EA: applying atropine before scald injury and then EA at ST36; (f) atropine/EAN: applying atropine before scald injury and then EA at nonchannel acupoints. EA at the Zusanli point significantly promoted the intestinal impelling ratio and increased the amount of mucosal blood flow after scald injury. The plasma diamine oxidase (DAO) and intestinal permeability decreased significantly after scald injury in the EA group compared with others. However, EA after atropine injection or cervical vagotomy failed to improve intestinal motility and mucosa blood flow suggesting that the mechanism of EA may be related to the activation of the cholinergic nerve pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM and Acupuncture, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Shock and Multiple Organ Dysfunction, Burns Institute, First Hospital Affiliated to The PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Xian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Shock and Multiple Organ Dysfunction, Burns Institute, First Hospital Affiliated to The PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100048, China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM and Acupuncture, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Zhangqi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM and Acupuncture, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Zhuhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of TCM and Acupuncture, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China ; Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Litscher
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China ; Research Unit for Complementary and Integrative Laser Medicine, Research Unit of Biomedical Engineering in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, and TCM Research Center Graz, Medical University of Graz, 8036 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Litscher