[Influence of electroacupuncture intervention on serum retinol binding protein 4 and liver function in nonalcoholic fatty liver rats].

OBJECTIVE

To observe the influence of electroacupuncture (EA) intervention on liver function and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP 4) in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) rats, so as to study its mechanisms underlying improving liver function.

METHODS

A total of 44 SD rats were randomly allocated to normal control, model, EA and non-acupoint groups, with 11 rats in each group. NAFLD model was established by feeding the rats with high glucose and high fat forage for 5 weeks. EA (2 Hz, 1.5 V, 15 min) was applied to unilateral "Fenglong" (ST 40), "Zusanli" (ST 36), "Sanyinjiao" (SP 6) and "Taichong" (LR 3), once daily for 4 weeks. Serum RBP 4 content was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG) contents were detected by chromatometry.

RESULTS

Compared with the normal control group, serum AST, ALT, TC, TG and RBP 4 contents in the model group were increased significantly (P<0. 01), while in comparison with the model group, the levels of the abovementioned 5 serum indexes were down-regulated considerably in the EA group (P < 0.05) rather than in the non-acupoint group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

EA intervention can lower serum AST, ALT, TC, TG and RBP 4 contents in NAFLD rats, which may be responsible for its action in improving NAFLD in clinic.