Effects of Electro-acupuncture at Zusanli Point on Gastric and Intestinal Blood Flow in Rats with Acute

Objective To investigate the effects of electro-acupuncture (EA) at Zusanli point on gastric and intestinal blood flow and seru m endothelin-1(ET-1), nitricoxide(NO), thromboxaneB2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prost-a glandin F1α (6-K-PGF1α) in rats with acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP). Methods Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into sham operation (sham), ANP and EA groups (n=12). ANP model was induced by retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate into pancreaticobilia ry. EA was applied to Zusanli for 30 min at 2 h and 6 h after the operation in E A group. Gastric and intestinal mucosal blood flow was measured by laser doppler flowmetry （LDF） at 12 h and 24 h after operation, while the levels of serum E T-1, NO, TXB2 and 6-K-PGF1α were detected. Results The gast ric and intestinal blood flow in ANP rats were significantly lower than those in the sham group (P<0.05), but those of EA groups were higher than those in A NP groups (P<0.05). The serum ET-1, NO and ET-1/NO levels in ANP group wer e increased when compared with SO group (P<0.05). After the electro-acupunc ture treatment at Zusanli point, the levels of ET-1, NO and ET-1/N were decrea sed, and there were significant differences of ET-1 (at 12 h, 24 h), NO (at 12 h ) and ET-1/NO (at 24 h) CM(155.3mmbetween EA and ANP group(P<0.05). The levels of serum TXB2, 6-K-PGF1α and TXB2/6-K-PGF1α in ANP CM) group were also increased (P<0.05), but those in EA group were decreased, and there were significant differences of TXB2 (at 12 h, 24 h), 6-K-PGF1α (at 12 h) and TXB2/6 K-PGF1α (at 24 h) compared with ANP groups (P<0.05). Conclusion Electro-acupuncture at Zusanli point can significantly improve the gastric and intestinal mucosa bl ood flow in ANP rats, which may be related to the regulation of serum ET-1, NO, TXB2, 6-K-PGF1α.