Liang Chao, Wang Kaiyue, Xu Bin, Yu Zhi
Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210046, Jiangsu Province, China.
Xi'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Brain Disease Hospital, Xi'an, 710000, China.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2016 Oct 18;16(1):392. doi: 10.1186/s12906-016-1377-5.
Electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoint ST 37 (Shangjuxu) has been used to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve gastrointestinal motility. However, the mechanisms by which EA affects the enteric nervous system (ENS) have scarcely been investigated. In this study, we investigated whether EA could improve ENS function.
A constipation model was established by gastric instillation of ice-cold saline daily for 14 days. The constipated mice were divided into two groups: the model group, which was not treated, and the EA group, which received EA at ST 37 at a frequency of 2-15 HZ and an amplitude of 1 mA for 15 min a day for 3 days. A further six mice were included as a non-constipated control group. After EA treatment, intestinal propulsion and defecation time were measured. Additionally, in jejunum, ileum and proximal colon myenteric plexus, the expressions of PGP9.5 and nNOS were measured by immunohistochemistry.
The EA group demonstrated significant improvements in carbon propulsion rates and defecation time compared to model group (P < 0.05). In addition, after EA, the PGP9.5 and nNOS expression in jejunum, ileum and proximal colonic myenteric plexus was back to normal levels.
This study suggests that EA stimulation at ST 37 is capable of ameliorating intestinal motility dysfunction, and can partly restore enteric neuron function. The ENS can participate in changes in intestinal motility by affecting inhibitory neurons.
针刺足三里穴已被用于缓解胃肠道症状并改善胃肠动力。然而，电针影响肠神经系统（ENS）的机制鲜有研究。在本研究中，我们探究了电针是否能改善肠神经系统功能。
通过每日胃内灌注冰冷生理盐水建立便秘模型，持续14天。将便秘小鼠分为两组：未治疗的模型组和电针组，电针组针刺足三里穴，频率为2 - 15赫兹，强度为1毫安，每天15分钟，共3天。另外纳入6只小鼠作为非便秘对照组。电针治疗后，测量肠道推进率和排便时间。此外，通过免疫组化法检测空肠、回肠和近端结肠肌间神经丛中PGP9.5和nNOS的表达。
与模型组相比，电针组的炭末推进率和排便时间有显著改善（P < 0.05）。此外，电针治疗后，空肠、回肠和近端结肠肌间神经丛中PGP9.5和nNOS的表达恢复至正常水平。
本研究表明，针刺足三里穴能够改善肠道运动功能障碍，并能部分恢复肠神经元功能。肠神经系统可通过影响抑制性神经元参与肠道运动的改变。
