Effect Of Electroacupuncture On The Expression Of MCP-1 And TNF-α In Adipose Tissues From High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Rats

Objective:To observe the effect of electroacupuncture(EA) on the expression of inflammatory cytokines MCP-1 and TNF-αin epididymis adipose tissue from high fat diet-induced obese rats. To discuss the possible mechanism of restraining the state of inflammatory response in obesity with EA,and whether reviews the varying degrees of anti-inflammatory action with diverse intensities of EA.Methods:Obesity was induced by feeding the rats with high fat diet for eight weeks.Then SD rats were randomly devided into normal group (N,n=10),model group(M,n=10), strong stimulation EA group (SSEA,n=10),weak stimulation EA group (WSEA,n=10). EA (continuals wave,20Hz, strong stimulation:5V,weak stimulation:2.5V) was applied to"Zu san li","San yin jiao"in SSEA and WSEA groups for 15min everyday and for 14 days. In addition to the normal group, all the remaining rats were fed high fat diet during the therapy session.Body weight and Lee's index in each group were detected. Biochemical method was used to detect the levels of blood lipid and blood glucose in the serum of rats. In epididymis adipose tissue,the expression of MCP-1 mRNA and TNF-αmRNA were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR),the protein contents of MCP-1 and TNF-αwere detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results:In model group,body weight,Lee's index,blood lipid (TG,CHO,LDL-C)and GLU were significantly higher than those in normal group, but HDL-C was significantly decreased(P <0.01);the expression of MCP-1,TNF-αmRNA and protein in rats epididymal adipose tissue were significantly increased(P <0.01).After EA, body weight,Lee's index and the expression of MCP-1,TNF-αmRNA and protein from obese rats of two EA groups were significantly decreased(P<0.01,P<0.05).SSEA exhibited a better improvement on the contents of blood lipid compared with the WSEA group(P<0.01,P<0.05)while no statistical significance was observed between the two EA groups as to blood glucose levels (P>0.05).Conclusion:Electroacupuncture(EA) could reduce body weight,Lee's index and improve the contents of blood lipid and blood glucose in obese rats,also could decrease the expression of MCP-1,TNF-αmRNA and protein in obese rats epididymal adipose tissue,and moreover,SSEA group is superior to WSEA group. The results show that"Zu san li"and"San yin jiao"with EA has a beneficial regulating effect on rats with simple obesity.