Effects Of Electro-Acupuncture At The Stomach Back-Shu And Frontal-Mu Points On The Brain Functional Network Connection Pattern Of Fd Rats With Injured Gustatory Cortex Of Insula

Objective:In this study,7.0T f MRI and whole-brain functional connection analysis methods were used to explore the influence of electro-acupuncture at the stomach back-shu and frontal-mu points on the functional connectivity of whole brain in FD rats with injured gustatory cortex of insula.And the central response mechanism of acupuncture at the stomach back-shu and frontal-mu points for treating FD was further analyzed with previous studies.Methods:1.60 7-days-old male FD rats were randomly divided into FD acupuncture group,FD model group and FD sham group.0.1% iodide acetamide(IA)sucrose solution feeding method and Guo Haijun's tail pinch fighting method with irregular feeding method were adopted in each group to build the FD model.2.The surgery to injure rats' gustatory cortex of insula was performed at the age of 7weeks.The FD acupuncture group and FD model group were injected with ibotenic acid injection while the FD sham group was given equal amount phosphate buffer salt solution(PBS)injection.3.After the model was established,the FD acupuncture group was treated with electro-acupuncture stimulation on stomach back-shu and frontal-mu points.The FD model group and the FD sham group were held and fixed only.4.At the end of the intervention,6 rats in each group were randomly selected for resting stage f MRI(r-f MRI)scanning with whole-brain functional connectivity analysis.5.Serum gastrin level and gastric emptying rate were measured after intervention.The general condition data of rats in each stage were recorded and statistically analyzed.Results:1.After surgery,the general condition of FD sham group was better than the other two groups(P<0.05).Histology demonstrated that the gustatory cortex area was successfully destroyed.2.After modeling,FD rats in all three groups showed different degree of deterioration,and the general condition of FD sham group was significantly better than the other two groups(P<0.05).3.After acupuncture intervention,compared with the FD model group,the weight gain,food-intake,gastric emptying rate of FD acupuncture group were increased and the serum gastrin were decreased(P<0.05).But there was no significant difference in the water-intake between the two groups(P< 0.05).4.The results of whole-brain functional connectivity analysis: after intervention,compared with the FD model group,enhanced connections were shown in those brain regions of FD acupuncture group,including olfactory bulb and habenula,thalamus,auditory cortex and piriform cortex,substantia nigra and parabrachial nuclei.The brain regions which showed reduced connections were olfactory nodules and insula,hippocampus and septal nuclei.Conclusion:1.Electro-acupuncture at stomach back-shu and frontal-mu points can improve the general situation of FD rats with injured gustatory cortex of insular and regulate gastric emptying rate and serum gastrin level.2.Combined with the results of previous studies,electro-acupuncture at the stomach back-shu and frontal-mu points can regulate the olfactory cortex,limbic system,basal ganglia and other brain systems closely related to emotion,cognition and visceral sensation in FD rats.It may be one of the central response mechanisms of electro-acupuncture at the stomach back-shu and frontal-mu points for treating FD.