Research Article Details

Article ID: A27332
PMID: 18630587
Source: Zhen Ci Yan Jiu
Title: [Influence of electroacupuncture on insulin-resistance in nonalcoholic fatty liver rats].
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in rats. METHODS: Thirty male SD rats were randomized into normal control, NAFLD model and EA groups, with 10 cases in each. NAFLD model was established by feeding the rats with high-fat food for 8 weeks. EA (2 Hz, 4 mA) was applied to "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Fenglong" (ST 40), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6), and "Taichong" (LR 3) for 15 min, once daily for 4 weeks. Fasting blood sugar (FBG) and serum free fatty acids (FFA) were detected with chromatometry; serum insulin (INS) was determined with radioimmunoassay; homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and liver index (LI) were calculated. Liver tissue was cut into sections for detecting pathological changes. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group, FBG, INS, FFA, HOMA-IR and LI of model group increased significantly (P<0.05), and hepatic diffuse steatosis with cellular necrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration was obvious. In comparison with model group, all the 5 indexes in EA group decreased significantly (P<0.05), and pathological changes as hepatic steatosis, etc. were significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: EA may be used to effectively improve NAFLD by lowering insulin resistance.
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