The Key Unit of Acupuncture-moxibustion and immunological effects, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 650 South Wanping Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai 200030, PR China.
Neurosci Lett. 2009 Nov 20;465(3):235-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.09.018. Epub 2009 Sep 16.
Previous studies into electro-acupuncture (EA) treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) have principally focused on the peripheral effects of EA in a rat model of IBS. It is not known whether EA exerts central effects in this rat model. We have examined the effects of EA on hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) levels in a rat model of IBS provoked by colorectal distension (CRD) and forelimb immobilization. EA was administered once daily to IBS model rats over a period of 7 d; untreated IBS rats and controls were also studied. The behavioral response to distension was rated according to the abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) score; hypothalamic CRH levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. We report that EA treatment significantly decreased visceral sensitivity to CRD in this rat model. In treated animals, EA also decreased hypothalamic CRH to control levels. Reduced hypothalamic CRH levels may mediate the beneficial effects of EA in this rat IBS model.
先前的电针（EA）治疗肠易激综合征（IBS）的研究主要集中在 IBS 大鼠模型中 EA 的外周效应。尚不清楚 EA 是否对这种大鼠模型具有中枢效应。我们已经研究了电针对结肠扩张（CRD）和前肢固定引起的 IBS 大鼠模型中下丘脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放激素（CRH）水平的影响。在 7 天的时间内，每天对 IBS 模型大鼠进行一次电针治疗；同时也研究了未经治疗的 IBS 大鼠和对照组。根据腹壁回缩反射（AWR）评分评估扩张时的行为反应；通过放射免疫测定测量下丘脑 CRH 水平。我们报告说，电针治疗显著降低了这种大鼠模型对 CRD 的内脏敏感性。在治疗动物中，电针还将下丘脑 CRH 降低至对照水平。降低的下丘脑 CRH 水平可能介导了 EA 在这种大鼠 IBS 模型中的有益作用。
