title: Electroacupuncture Improves Insulin Resistance by Reducing Neuroprotein Y/Agouti-Related Protein Levels and Inhibiting Expression of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 1B in Diet-induced Obese Rats.
abstract: Electroacupuncture (EA) has been shown to exert beneficial effects on obesity, but the mechanism is unclear. This study investigated the effects of EA on diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. Fifty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into low-fat diet (LFD, 10 rats) and high-fat diet (HFD, 40 rats) groups. After the DIO models had been established, successful model rats were randomly divided into HFD, EA, and orlistat (OLST) groups. The EA group received EA at Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11) for 20 minutes once per day for 28 days. The OLST group was treated with orlistat by gavage. The body weight, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index, adipocyte diameters, and neuroprotein Y/agouti-related protein and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B levels were significantly lower in the EA group than in the HFD group. The rats of the OLST group showed watery stools and yellow hairs whereas those of the EA group had regular stools and sleek coats. The effect of EA on weight loss may be related to improved insulin resistance caused by changes in the adipocyte size and by reductions in the expressions of neuroprotein Y/agouti-related protein and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B. This study indicates that EA may be a better method of alternative therapy for treating obesity and other metabolic diseases.
authors.affiliation: Institute of TCM Diagnostic, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of TCM Diagnostic, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China; Liuyang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Liuyang, China. Electronic address: 59421149@qq.com.
authors.forename: Jun-Feng
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Xiangxing College of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Ya-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Institute of TCM Diagnostic, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Jun
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Xiangxing College of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Yang
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Institute of TCM Diagnostic, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Sheng-Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Institute of TCM Diagnostic, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Institute of TCM Diagnostic, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Peng-Fei
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D059305:Diet, High-Fat / Q000009:adverse effects; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D054562:Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1
keywords: adipocytes; diet-induced obese rats; homeostasis model assessment–insulin resistance index; neuroprotein Y/agouti-related protein; protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B