Mechanism Of Electroacupuncture On Shu-Mu Points Of Lung And Large Intestine On Relieving Lung Injury In Rats With Acute Pancreatitis Through Promoting Gastrointestinal Motility

Background:Acute lung injury (AL1) is a common complication of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), which is closely related to the acute gastrointestinal dysfunction. Previous studies proved that acupuncture could improve the gastrointestinal function to reduce the lung inflammatory injury by regulating the gastrointestinal hormone. However, the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) on combination of Shu-Mu points of lung and large intestine for ameliorating ALl in rats with acute pancreatitis (AP) was still to be explored. The optional points combination for SAP related ALl is still unclear for the moment.Object:Based on the theory of " lung and large intestine are interiorly and exteriorly related", the research focused on the gastrointestinal dysfunction and acute lung injury that frequently occur along with SAP. To explore the mechanism of Shu-Mu points combination for ameliorating SAP and the best points combination for SAP, through EA at Shu-Mu points of lung and large intestine for ameliorating gastrointestinal dysfunction and AL1 in rats with SAP.Method:Forty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal, model, Shu, Mu and Shu-Mu groups (n=8). Model and EA therapy groups were established by retrograding infusion of 3.5% taurocholic acid into SD rats' pancreatitis ducts. Two hours after modeling, EA was applied to the three EA therapy groups. The interval time between two EA therapies was 7 hours, while EA treatment lasted for 40 minutes each time. (Shu group:EA at bilateral BL-13 and BL-25 for 40 minutes, Mu group:EA at bilateral LU-1 and ST-25 for 40 minutes, Shu-Mu group: EA at bilateral BL-13 and BL-25 for 20 minutes, then at bilateral LU-1 and ST-25 for 20 minutes). The rats in normal and model group were fixed without EA at the same time.36 hours after modeling, arterial blood samples, as well as pancreatic, lung and large intestinal tissues were collected. The amylase (AMY), cholecystokinin (CCK) vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin (MTL) and diamine oxidase (DAO) of the arterial blood, together with the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) of the pancreatic, lung and large intestinal tissues, were all detected by ELISA. The tissues were also collected for biomarkers and histopathology.Results:EA treatment reduced MPO, MDA level of pancreatic, lung and large intestinal tissues, as well as AMY, VIP level of serum compared with model group (P<0.05). EA treatment increased the serum MTL level compared with model group (P<0.05). Pathological scores of pancreatic, lung and large intestinal issues were reduced in Shu-Mu group compared with model group (P<0.05). So did the serum CCK and DAO level (P<0.05). Significant differences were shown in serum CCK and MTL level, as well as lung and large intestinal MPO and MDA level between any two EA treatment groups. Shu-Mu group is better than the other two EA treatment groups (P<0.05).Conclusion:EA at Shu points or Mu points of lung and large intestine can reduce lung injury by ameliorating gastrointestinal dysfunction with the effect of regulating gastrointestinal hormone and improving gastrointestinal movement. The combination of Shu and Mu points has better effect than the Shu group or the Mu group alone.