Effects Of Electroacupuncture At Unilateral And Bilateral Tianshu Points On Colonic Function And Autonomic Balance In IBS-D Rats

Objective:In this study,we used colonic pain sensitivity,colonic slow wave and heart rate frequency domain as objective indicators to observe the effects of electroacupuncture at single(left)and bilateral Tianshu points on the regulation of colonic function and autonomic balance in rats with diarrhea-type irritable bowel syndrome,respectively,to provide a scientific basis for the optimization of acupuncture point grouping protocols for clinical acupuncture treatment of this disease.Methods:(1)Rats with diarrheal irritable bowel syndrome were prepared by establishing a chronic water avoidance stress model by dividing 60 rats into four groups:blank group,model group,single-needle group(left),and double-needle group using the random number table method.After the model was prepared,no intervention was applied to the blank group and no intervention was applied to the model group.The rats in the single-needle group(left)were given electroacupuncture to stimulate the left tianshu acupoint and the rats in the double-needle group were given electroacupuncture to stimulate the bilateral tianshu acupoints,both once a day for 20 min,and all three groups were treated for 14 days.The rats were given normal feed and water during the treatment period.The condition of each group of rats was observed and recorded daily.The rats in the four groups were subjected to the elevated cross-maze experiment before,after and after the treatment,and the number of open arm entries OE% and open arm dwell time OT% were recorded and calculated for each rat.The four groups of rats were subjected to colorectal dilation stimulation after modeling and after treatment,and scored by abdominal withdrawl reflex(AWR)test,and the results of the scores were recorded.The rats were executed the day after the treatment.The colonic pain sensitivity,colonic slow wave,and heart rate frequency domain of the rats were recorded by Lab Chart.The data were processed and analyzed by SPSS21.0 software.Results:1.AWR scores in rats: before treatment,compared with the blank group,the AWR scores in the model group,single-needle(left)group and double-needle group were significantly higher(P<0.001);after treatment,compared with the model group,the AWR scores in the single-needle(left)group and double-needle group were significantly lower(P<0.001);compared with the single-needle(left)and double-needle groups,there was no significant significance(P>0.05).2.Visceral in rats pain thresholds: compared with the blank group,the pain thresholds of the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.001);compared with the model group,the pain thresholds of both the single-needle group(left)and the double-needle group were significantly increased(P<0.001);there was no statistical significance between the single-needle group(left)and the double-needle group(P>0.05).3.Colonic slow wave frequency of rats: compared with the blank group,the colonic slow wave frequency of the model group rats Compared with the model group,the slow wave frequency in the single-needle group(left)and the double-needle group was increased(P<0.001);there was no statistical significance between the single-needle group(left)and the double-needle group(P>0.05).4.Heart rate frequency domain of rats:Compared with the blank group,the heart rate in the model group had increased low frequency(LF),increased high frequency(HF)decreased and LF/HF increased in the model group(P<0.001);compared with the model group,LFdecreased,HFincreased and LF/HF decreased in both the single-needle group(left)and the double-needle group(P<0.001);the differences between the single-needle group(left)and the double-needle group were not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion:(1)electroacupuncture at both unilateral(left)and bilateral tianshu acupoints could modulate colonic pain sensitivity and improve colorectal pain threshold in IBS-D rats;(2)electroacupuncture at both unilateral(left)and bilateral tianshu acupoints had positive restorative effects on colonic slow wave frequency and morphology in IBS-D rats;(3)electroacupuncture at both unilateral(left)and bilateral tianshu acupoints could effectively modulate autonomic balance in IBS-D rats;(4)compared with electroacupuncture at unilateral(left)tianshu,electroacupuncture at bilateral tianshu acupoints did not show significant advantages on the modulation of colonic function and autonomic balance in IBS-D model rats.