Sun Jian-Hua, Guo Hui, Chen Lu, Wu Xiao-Liang, Li Hao, Pei Li-Xia, Peng Yong-Jun, Lu Bin
Department of Rehabilitation, Jiangsu Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, China.
Zhen Ci Yan Jiu. 2011 Jun;36(3):171-5.
To observe the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) of "Tianshu" (ST 25) on colonic smooth muscle structure and interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in slow transit constipation (STC) rats, so as to investigate its mechanism underlying improving STC.
Wistar rats (n = 56) were randomly allocated to control (n = 20), model and EA groups (n = 18/ group). STC model was established by feeding the rats with forage containing compound Diphenoxylate. EA (0.8 - 1.3 mA, 2 Hz/15 Hz) was applied to bilateral "Tianshu" (ST 25) for 15 min, once daily for 14 days. The treatment was given beginning from the next day on after the rat's first black stool excretion was found. The colonic smooth muscle structure was observed under microscope after sectioning and HE staining. The immunoactivity (average optical density, OD) of intestinal immuno-reaction (IR) po-sitive ICC product was detected by immunohistochemistry.
(1) Microscopic observation displayed that after modeling, the rat's intestinal mucosa gland showed atrophy with reduction in the acinar number, being sparse in distribution; and the smooth muscle thickness was obviously thinner compared with the normal control group (P < 0.05). Whereas this situation of the colonic smooth muscle in the EA group was close to that of the normal control group. Compared with the model group, the thickness of the intestinal smooth muscle in the EA group was significantly bigger (P < 0.05). (2) Immunohistochemical results showed that the average OD values and number of IR-positive colonic ICC in the model group were obviously decreased in comparison with the normal control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the average OD values and the number of IR-positive coIonic ICC in the EA group were upregulated considerably (P < 0.05).
EA of bilateral "Tianshu"(ST 25) is able to improve STC-induced structural changes of the colonic smooth muscle, and upregulate expression of colonic ICC in STC rats, which may be responsible for its efficacy in improving STC.
观察电针“天枢”（ST25）对慢传输型便秘（STC）大鼠结肠平滑肌结构及Cajal间质细胞（ICC）的影响，探讨其改善STC的作用机制。
将56只Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组（20只）、模型组和电针组（每组18只）。通过喂食含复方地芬诺酯的饲料建立STC模型。将电针（0.8 - 1.3 mA，2 Hz/15 Hz）施加于双侧“天枢”（ST25），持续15分钟，每日1次，共14天。从大鼠首次排出黑色粪便后的次日开始给予治疗。切片并进行HE染色后，在显微镜下观察结肠平滑肌结构。采用免疫组织化学法检测肠道免疫反应（IR）阳性ICC产物的免疫活性（平均光密度，OD）。
（1）显微镜观察显示，造模后大鼠肠黏膜腺萎缩，腺泡数量减少，分布稀疏；与正常对照组相比，平滑肌厚度明显变薄（P < 0.05）。而电针组结肠平滑肌的这种情况接近正常对照组。与模型组相比，电针组肠平滑肌厚度明显增大（P < 0.05）。（2）免疫组织化学结果显示，与正常对照组相比，模型组结肠IR阳性ICC的平均OD值和数量明显降低（P < 0.05）。与模型组相比，电针组结肠IR阳性ICC的平均OD值和数量显著上调（P < 0.05）。
双侧“天枢”（ST25）电针能够改善STC引起的结肠平滑肌结构变化，并上调STC大鼠结肠ICC的表达，这可能是其改善STC疗效的原因。
